Every year, parents ship their children off to various college institutions all over the country. They send them off with all of the “necessities” one would need to survive in the “real world”. Everything but the most vital; coping skills and the ability to deal with the stress that comes with college. One of the things, I wished I would have received the most, when I first enrolled in college was for someone to tell me; “I am here for you, I care for you, you got this.” This one phrase means both nothing and something to the majority of college students.
Going to college is a huge accomplishment and is nothing to be taken lightly. For lack of better words, it’s a culture shock; young adults are living separate lives apart from the watchful eyes of their families. No one is reminding you to complete assignments, to go to bed at a decent hour, making sure you made it to class on time, and lastly, staying on top of all of the never-ending pile of work you’ve been accumulating.
For someone who has never spent a decent amount of time away from their family, this can be a really difficult transition. According to American College Testing (ACT), one in every four college students leaves college before completing their sophomore year — and nearly half of all freshmen will either drop out before obtaining a degree or complete their college education elsewhere.
That’s a little scary and intimidating but, that’s not what this post is about. This post is meant to ENCOURAGE and EMPOWER anyone who should look upon it.
When I first enrolled in college I thought, COLLEGE! This’ll be a breeze! NEGATIVE! I struggled so much! I didn’t take the time to familiarize myself with my new found independence; I was a bull in a china shop and oh, did it show. I felt so lost and I felt like I needed a manual of sorts in order to just stay ‘above water’.
I have created a list of things if you will, that will help anyone who is struggling to remain healthy and sane in college.
SLEEP. I don’t care what you have heard, what you have read about college; you need to sleep. I get it, sometimes there are days where you don’t have time to sleep. You have due dates and tests to study for; but, if you’re running on no sleep you’re just setting yourself up for failure.
WATER. There’s nothing wrong with having a drink (or two) but, you NEED water to survive. So many college students I have been in contact with have revealed that they mostly consume sugary energy drinks, sodas, and coffee. I can’t lie, I’ve maintained on several of these a time or two, just make sure you throw in water from time to time.
GET EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. I can’t stress this enough! Parents. Friends. Siblings. Coaches. Advisers. Let your student know that you are there for them! Sometimes just having a listening ear makes all the difference in the world. You don’t have to offer advice or give a solution just LISTEN. (If you are a education major, this would be a great time to tell your family and friends about ACTIVE LISTENING). Too often, are students holding in things that are causing them grief, give them an arena of release.
BE ACTIVE. Join clubs and/or associations that match your interests. One of my own regrets about my college experience was that I wasn’t more active. By being active, you are constantly on the go which encourages physical activity and that’s always good (or is it?). Just kidding, get out there and bloom flower!
NUTRITION. Did I say college is hectic? Even though, it’s tough sometimes you need to eat healthy. Try a couple of times a week, you don’t have to break the bank or use all of your meal swipes. Try buying fruit that has a long shelf life like apples, oranges, and bananas. Dry cereals, and instant oatmeal packets the possibilities are endless.
STAY ON TASK. You is kind, you is smart, you can pass that test! It’s so hard to become organized, especially if you’ve spent your earlier years with your backpack being a black-hole. Create a cork board to place your daily to-do’s, track the dates of tests and assignments. Or even buy a planner or log everything into your smartphone or laptop.
Welp, that’s all I have today folks! I hope this helps someone who is considering taking that leap into college life or even someone is curious. Thank you guys so much for reading and please check back for new posts! I will post every Wednesday and Friday.
XOXO,
Tune
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**Excuse my face but this is what the product looked like once I applied it to my face.**
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