As a college graduate, I would say I have at least four years of experience worth sharing to all you freshman out there. Even if you aren’t a freshman going into college, you can learn a lot from students who have been there and done that! Although this post is relatively focused on college students, I truly believe high school students can take these lessons and adjust them to fit his/her high school lifestyle, too.
Let’s jump right into the post, because who has time to read a long post while in school? Not me! Here are three back-to-school tips to bear in mind when beginning your school year.
- Take advantage of time with professors outside of the classroom. Your professors are there to help you. If they have office hours, schedule time to meet with them. You don’t have to do this every week. But, I recommend you keep up with your professor as often as possible. My relationship with my professors in college are some of the most rewarding and wonderful relationships I had in college. Actually, some of those relationships are still ongoing. I will be the first to admit that I never even talk to some of my best friends from freshman year. However, I do talk to my college professors. They are a resource. You pay to go there. Why not befriend them? *SUB-TIP: Don’t kiss their ass… No one likes a brown-noser. Be real. Be you. Be willing to learn.
- Get involved! Everyone says this, I know. There is a reason why schools try so hard to get you involved. You don’t have to run for SGA president or be the captain of a sports team. Just go to a few meetings of a club that may interest you. Freshman year, I spoke with at least 10 clubs that peaked my interest. I only focused on a few, because that is all time would permit for a student-athlete, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Not only are you getting out of your dorm room, but you have an opportunity to make some new friends. Going out of your comfort zone is ideal, too. Try to befriend people who you wouldn’t normally hang out with. Why not, right? Give it a shot. It can be intimidating, and if it doesn’t work out, at least you can say you tried!
- Love your syllabus. This is where you will find almost everything you will need to succeed in a course. It should list a class schedule, professor’s information, books for class, and due dates (the most important). Treasure it and remember to edit it when things change in class. If the professor makes changes to the syllabus, you are responsible for marking those changes!
I hope these three tips are helpful to you. I know they were for me! I loved every minute of college (even the tough days). Make your experience not only rewarding from an academic level, but also on a social level. You never know who you are going to meet while in school. Have a wonderful year and good luck!
Completely unwarranted life lesson from a married woman #26: Not everything will go as planned. Roll with the punches and push through. You got this! Be open to new experiences and I promise things will work out for the best.
