How to Survive College

        Learn how to survive college if you're a first generation college student or returning from the military.

Are you a high-school senior looking to live on campus ? Maybe you want to live far far away from your family and this could be the perfect opportunity for you.Or you're looking to finally finish your degree and this is the perfect time to do it.  Read this blog to find some helpful tips to start your independent journey. 

What is College?

College is the equivalent of high-school but just multiplies the stress, anxiety and expectations put on you while also keeping your family update on your progress and maintaining your friendship/ relationships. Feel the stress yet? Hopefully this isn't making you rethink this decision because I have some tips for you up head to help you survive it. 

What Should You Bring?

When you're packing for a trip or a vacation you'd usually make a list to make sure you have everything you need. This is similar however you aren't making the essentials. You're packing a mini home. Most things are common sense like your clothes and hygiene products etc. Most people don't take into account how long it'll actually be and how much you'll miss. Yes i'm talking about being home sick. We’ve all had our fair share of missing home however we can combat these feelings by bringing comfort items.Some examples are maybe a favorite blanket, photo, or necklace/key-chain. You'd be surprised how much you'd miss something over time. 

Mental Health

When we are put in a new surrounding for the first time or have more freedoms than we would normally have our minds try and collect the pieces for us and sometimes we get sad or we do something that affects us in a way that we don't quite understand yet. Most first year college students either isolate themselves or go on a quite the unhealthy binge. Whether that be alcohol and parties or just a bunch of junk food you could get into a pretty bad state of mind. You should always try to give yourself breaks every now and then if the stress of your classes is getting you down. Maybe read a book, meditate and or talk to a friend about how you're feeling. If your school offers therapy then that might also be something worth doing.

Having roommates is such a hard thing to navigate during your school semester. We are expected to (if you're as unlucky as me) move in with complete strangers and share a multitude of things while also remaining a respectful level. Some circumstances aren't preventable and if you ever should feel the need you can ask for a meditation to help with some of the tension. If all else fails and you truly feel unsafe then you could ask for a room change.

Be involved

I know we might hate the idea of socializing or being apart of a group, but this could make or break your experience. This doesn't mean to tell you that you have to be in five different clubs and sororities-just find something that interests you and make some friends. I am a very introverted person so what really helps me is knowing that if I don't like it I can leave and its that simple. It's all about what helps you and what helps move you forward. 

Staying active is extremely important as well. My semester was full of binge eating and watching Netflix. I gained a lot of weight and I was severely  depressed to the point where I didn't even bother going to my finals. A simple thing you can do is just go for a walk and breathe. A lot of problems seem hard until you look at them from a different view point. Sports are a good thing to do if you're looking to meet new people and just have some fun. 

 Some Sports/Clubs You Could Join Are:

1. Volley Ball
2. Soccer
3. Softball
4. Football
5. Basket Ball
6. Gaming club
7. FFA (future farmers of
   america) 

 Clubs are usually unique to the campus you're staying at so go to some interest meetings or ask around! It never hurts to ask.

Grades

This one is a no brainier, but yes grades are so important. We might get caught up in the freedom of college and not realize that you have three tests the next day and you haven't studied at all. The biggest threat to your GPA is time management. A skill hard to master, but worth the pay off. A good way to time mange is to get a planner and plan things out at least two weeks in advance. If you're like me and absolutely hate the idea of planing then you can do small things to build up to it such as looking at whats due and then take small breaks to keep yourself from getting overwhelmed. 

Another huge threat to your GPA is of course your grades. Deciding not to show up is a freshman mistake that could lead to you wasting a semester and possibly loosing scholarships and even financial aid. Go to tutoring if you're struggling in a class they are there to help you. You can even go to your professor and ask for one-on-one help and to even discus your grade and how you can improve. It's important to communicate with your professor because they'll know you care about the class and be that more interested in helping you succeed.

Have fun- and be safe!

There is no right or wrong way to live your college life. Whether you are involved in sports and clubs or you go for walks at night this is your opportunity to learn about your self and improve. Everyone will claim they know the secrets to surviving college but there isn't a singular answer. Your experiences will be different than mine however we can all be mindful of what makes us happy and maybe that can help someone else.