Freshman Ask is a section dedicated to answering the questions that run through every freshman’s head. The questions are answered by Schae Maynard, junior environmental science major. Maynard is from Trinidad and Tobago and this is her second year as an Orientation Coordinator at NSU. Stay tuned to see what questions your fellow freshman are asking and how you can make the most of your time during your undergraduate years. If you have any questions or want more information, stop by the Office of Orientation on the first floor of the Student Affairs Building, room 106.
Q: The semester is only 8 weeks in and I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed. I want to be a part of everything happening on campus but it’s been pretty crazy trying to balance my social life, academics and clubs. I don’t know what to do and I need some help figuring it all out.
—Rachel, Maryland
A: Hey Rachel, I know this feeling all too well. It’s scary to feel overwhelmed and we have all been there. It’s important to understand that this is a common feeling for many college students including many of your freshman peers. So below I have five tips for you on how to balance it all.
1/ Prioritize:
I know this seems like a simple system, but trust me when I say this has saved me from one too many nervous breakdowns. Step one of prioritizing is to find the perfect journal or planner. Go venture into the world of online shopping or run to your friendly, neighborhood bookstore and find a fetch planner and, of course, a fancy writing apparatus to accompany it. By finding a stylish, yet functional planner, you will be more likely to write your tasks down and even if you don’t you, will have the dopest planner in the land. (But seriously, use it, please.)
If you don’t like writing, you can always use your cell phone. Besides helping you destroy the competition at Flappy Bird, cell phones are a great way to keep track of all of your life happenings. Writing out what you have to do is a good way to see all that you have to do for your week or month and what you may or may not have time for.
2/ Develop a regular routine:
Now that you are the coolest student in Shark Nation with your playful “kittens in a basket” planner, it is easier for you to create a routine. By settling into a routine and making it constant, you will know what you need to do and when. This will save you time, worry, sleepless nights and shower cry sessions. You’ll be able to relax and relieve unnecessary stress and there will still be tons of time for you to YOLO and carry on with your daily Netflix binge watching session because you don’t want to fall behind on the Walking Dead.
3/ Keep an eye on your grades:
To get an idea of where you stand at this point in the semester, you can go see your professors’ office hours or check Blackboard in the grades session to see if your professors have loaded your grades in. As fun as it is to be a part of every single club and organization under the sun, remember that above anything else, you are at college for an education.
I know I sound like a mom, but by staying on top of your grades, you can spot those quiz scores that might be slipping or those low project grades. By being alert, you can reach out to your professors and see if there is any way for you to still make the grades you would like to see for yourself with the rest of the time you have left in the semester. While you work on getting your grades in order, you can take a break from some of the million things you are involved in. Then, when you sort your life out, you can always rejoin SGA, the dance team or whatever else tickles your fancy.
4/ Plan ahead:
Refer to the aforementioned dope planner and see how handy this planner can actually be. Look through your syllabus for all important dates and assignments and write them down with their due dates. Although time seems to be on your side, it’s a trap. Don’t drink the “I have sooo much time still” Kool-Aid. I know it’s tasty but even a sip is not recommended. There is always enough time to get all that you need to get done finished way before it’s due. Working on assignments as soon as you get them is one way of defeating the mountains of assignments and papers that have been placed onto you by your professors. Trust me when I say I understand the struggle that is Mastering Chemistry.
By starting assignments as soon as you get them, you will have plenty of time to work on them before they’re due. So when your COMP professor wants you to write a 20-page paper discussing the importance of language on top of having to complete two Mastering Chem sections, you would not feel so overwhelmed if you give yourself enough time to work through it all before it’s due. Honestly, there is no reason you should be stressing over papers or big tests the night before they are due if you give yourself enough time to get everything done in advance.
5/ Stay motivated:
I know it might seem hard now, but stick it out, and it will get easier. Work hard, and you’ll be done with this semester in no time and will hopefully be happy with the outcome. Set an end goal for yourself and when you accomplish it find a way to reward yourself. Christmas is around the corner and making those good grades might just make your parents feel more of the holly jolly spirit and get you that hover scooter you have been eyeing. Make this a regular practice and it’s a surefire way to get through your semester.
BONUS TIP/ Above all, don’t procrastinate:
The only way to survive is to eliminate the main source of crazy in your life and stay clear of the procrastination creature. It’s amazing at masking time and blurring the reality of how near that assignments are actually due. The Office of Undergraduate Student Success, located in the Rosenthal building, is a great place of refuge against this wild beast and its attacks. Drop in and speak to a success coach and they can help you prioritize your life. Hopefully with these tips and your hard work, you will be victorious over this creature and all that comes with it.
Well, that’s all folks. I hope these tips not only help you make the most out of the second half of your semester but will also help you as you continue to adult. Be sure to write back to us at orientation@nova.edu and let us know how things are going. Until next time!
“Just put one foot in front of the other. Just to get through the day”- Meredith Grey.
