Your summer break drew down its curtains the second your alarm intruded your world with its obnoxious blares. As you sit up on your bed and reminisce back to the longer days and shorter nights, you realize the freedom you thought was everlasting has come to an end. School is officially back in session.
Nonetheless, welcome to the Fall Semester of 2019! Brooklyn College’s 35-acre campus welcomes you to your new home. This establishment will lead you down a path of self-discovery to uncover your strengths, opportunities and many more. But trying to configure your mindset back to an academic one can be hard, especially when you’re already accustomed to the free-flowing ambiance of summer vacation. But change doesn’t always have to be painful, the key lies in balance. One advice would be to slowly ease into the work by studying ahead of time, taking away the possibility of any procrastination in the future. So in the entirety of it all, how can you make your college career a success story?
For one, it’s very important to have a clear goal. Whether it’s your first or last year in college, a clear structured plan will serve you well in the long run. It should be meaningful enough to help you surmount the obstacles to come. Another idea would be to prep your schedule wisely. Looking and planning ahead for your classes increases your chances of securing a spot in popular classes as well as giving you a more in-depth perspective of what you need to accomplish in the following semesters. One way to go about is to speak with your advisors about your schedule and goals in order to get an understanding of the amount of time you’ll have to devote. Also, while speaking to them, don’t be afraid to actually get to know them. Making connections in college is one of the most important things you can do as a college student. Find outlets to connect with people whether they be classmates, instructors, administrators or alumni. Ask to grab a coffee or meet during their office hours because you might realize one day they are potentially the ones who will help you land the dream job you’ve always wanted.
Last but not least, have a positive attitude. Students’ optimism often fades quickly as the reality of returning back to school settles in. This is perfectly normal if we take into consideration how changes can be tough, but it’s very important to keep your eye on the prize and pull through. A positive attitude will go a long way towards having an outstanding college experience and even building up your capabilities for bigger and better things in the future. That said, it’s also important to look out for your own mental, physical, and emotional health. Burning out is one of the epidemics plaguing students and taking time off from school/work to do what you love is crucial to your success. I like to internalize that rhetoric as, taking one step back in order to take three steps forward.
Following these steps are some of the ways to make your college experience fruitful and rewarding. By understanding the why’s and how’s in these methods, you will surely go a long way past your college careers and into your professional ones.
Bon voyage.