Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day-in and day-out.
– Robert Collier
Moving from high school to college can bring a lot of anxiety and fear. College is different and unfamiliar. However, these emotions, the knots in your stomach, and all the odd but somehow familiar feeling of delving into the unknown is not so new. You have experienced this in your transition from middle school to high school, it’s been experienced by your seniors, your parents, grandparents, even the ancestors before them. Change can be really scary for the most part. So here are a few tried and tested tips to help you thrive and survive college and the campus life jitters.
Learn to Relax
One trick that is said to help calm yourself down is to focus on your breathing. DON’T FORGET TO BREATHE. Breathing makes you feel at ease, more relaxed, less tensed–in the body and in mind. It is important to stay calm and collected, especially in the first weeks. Relaxing makes your brain function better in comparison as to when you are panicking. Being calm helps you process new information easier because your brain is in a better state.
Be Prepared
Nothing is more embarrassing than being reprimanded in a class by being unprepared. Before schools starts, schools give out general guidelines on things such as proper attire and decorum, schedules and the like. Read in advance.
Always follow the rules! Be on time and not be tardy. Make a list of needed requirements and always bring them to class, and most importantly, if possible, read about the basics of the lessons that will be discussed in class. Be in the know regarding the topics to be discussed. Being early no matter what is the best kind of preparedness. Remember every day you enter a battlefield, and you must always have your gear with you.
Make Friends
It’s always better to have someone by your side in moments of confusion and unfamiliarity. That’s why having friends could be a big help in your adjustment period. Being a foreign student, friends mean you are not alone. When you’re confused, lonely, feeling homesick, they are always ready to help. They let you discover new things. Friendships help ease up the adjustment process.
Manners Comes First
Often than not, manners contribute to other people’s impression of you. First impressions are very crucial, as we all know, for it could establish your image as good or not so. Therefore, it is important to always be mindful of your actions. Know and respect cultures, people, and practices. Make sure that respect is always present, and be friendly to the people around you, regardless of who they are. Also, remember that a smile can take you miles.
Have Fun!
And of course, last but not the least, HAVE FUN! Join organizations, clubs that you like, visit the student centers, join events, student parties, university fairs and academic fairs that you love! Whatever makes you feel happy. This will help you destress, loosen up in your daily activities.
Campus life helps you aim balance on activities, academics, and social life. You improve yourself every day. They all give life lessons that you will carry in your heart even after graduating. Here you can find friendships that last a lifetime, unforgettable relationships, and these are more important. “What’s essential is invisible to the eye”. Grades are important most definitely, but college is the last few years of sitting in a lecture hall and being on a school campus as a bachelor student. Time flies fast and you suddenly realize that there are only a few weeks before graduation. Time’s too short to dwell on the anxieties of the unknown, and while it’s alright and totally normal to feel scared, you must not let this fear take over.
All the best and good luck on your new journey!
