PROCESS PIECES April 2j, 2008
6
How to Survive Your Freshman Year of College
Rebecca Allen
Contributing Writer
Crossing the threshold
from high school senior
to college freshman can
be one of the most cha
otic and stressful times
in a student's life. Wheri
r was preparing for this
transition in my life,
I had no idea what I
was in for. Some of the
many tasks to accom
plish included the piles
of paperwork to fill out,
the numerous trips to the
mall to find the perfect
twin-sized comforter
with matching throw
pillows and the daily
occurrence of my mother
crying that her baby was
growing up. But all of
this was just preparation
for my freshman year,
and I could only imagine
how busy the year itself
would actually be. To
assist incoming freshmen
with this hectic time in
their lives, I have devel
oped a few tips to help
students start their fresh
man year off right, as
well as steps to survive
throughout the year.
First and foremost, all
financial and administra
tive paper work must
be completed prior to
moving on campus. Any
incomplete documents
can create more stress
than necessary and result
in ongoing aggravation
from the college's staff.
No student wants some
one from the accounting
office calling her every
day to squeeze out one
more signature. For the
sake of organization, it
is better to go ahead and
sign your life away soon
er rather than later.
Communicating with
your future roommate
prior to move-in day is
absolutely essential. If
you bring the mini-fridge
and so does your room
mate, this is the start
of an argument. I can
already hear it now: "I
like my fridge, so why
don't you take yours
back home?" I have to
say that this probably
isn't the best way to
begin a beautiful friend
ship. Planning ahead
for the supplies needed
in your dorm room and
working out the details
with your roommate will
help organize the mov
ing process and minimize
tension that could arise.
So you're finally
settled into your dorm
and have a few weeks of
college under your belt.
You think things are
going well until it is time
to wake up for your 8:00
class on Monday morn
ing: you think, "It isn't
going to hurt to just miss
it this once." Giving in
to this temptation is only
the beginning of many
more to come. If you
develop a habit of skip
ping class just because
you don't feel like going,
then the rest of the
semester will slowly
start going down- hill.
When the urge to skip
class hits you, just suck
it up and get out of bed.
Remember that, unlike
high school, you are actu
ally paying to attend col
lege.
The next step for
surviving your fresh
man year of college is
to study. College and
high school courses are
different in many ways,
such as their content,
their level of difficulty
and the expectations of
your professors. More
is expected of students
in college. To succeed
academically, one must
study and do all assigned
work. Some people can
go to class and not study
but still score A's on their,
exams. That is great for
those students, but for
the majority of people,
studying is required.
Keep in mind that your
professors are assigning
you work for a reason,
and staying on top of
these tasks will only ben
efit you. Keep your pri
orities straight, and make
sure that studying is high
in that list.
I'm sure you're won
dering where the excite
ment is that is supposed
to come along with the
college life. Well, here
it is: have fun but at the
appropriate times. I am
all for going out with
friends, meeting new
people and making the
most of your college
Survive cont. on pg. 7
How to Accept Life Without Him
Bobbi Jean Moss
Contributing Writer
The sound of the
alarm is ringing in your
ear; it's time to start the
day. You probably want
to stay in bed and hide
under the over-sized
comforter, although you
can't. After hitting the
snooze button about
five times, your eyes
open wide. In a brief
panic, you feel reality set
in. Today you have an
important event on your
agenda: you must accept
your life without him.
The break-up has
recently occurred, and
you have promised your
self not to wallow in self-
pity another day. The
first step to accepting life
without him is to jump
out of bed with a smile
on your face. You will
notice an immediate dif
ference after jumping out
of bed; breathing seems
easier. The heavy burden
of unhappiness has been
removed from your life.
After getting out of bed,
walk over to your com
puter, find your favorite
play list and turn up the
music. While the music
is blaring, walk over to
your window and open
the blinds. With the sun
shining on you, dance
around your room for a
few minutes. After you
have fully awakened,
proceed to the kitchen for
breakfast.
Once in the kitchen,
grab the nearest choco
late and/or fruit and start
eating. It is important
to start the day off with
something sweet as you
prepare for your new
beginning. After break
fast, take a shower. Once
out of the shower, begin
putting on make-up.
Today is a day for your
brightest lipstick and
your favorite jeans. The
next
step, after getting
dressed, is to gather
everything you will need
for the day and leave
your residence. Your
cell phone will probably
ring around this time; it
could be your mother or
your best friend calling
to make sure that you
are all right. As soon
as you get him off your
mind, someone with
good intentions will call
and bring him back into
your memory. Answer
the phone and cheerfully
tell the person who has
called that you are fine.
Then jump into your car
and whole-heartedly
attempt to conquer the
day.
As you progress
through the day, train
your brain not to think
of him. When he comes
into your mind, think
happy thoughts. Go
cheerfully through the
day, eating and doing
whatever pleases you.
When you return home,
you may be tempted to
call him or look at his
Facebook page. You
look around your room.
and there are pictures
of him everywhere.
Immediately delete any
pictures of him on your
cell phone, text messages
that he has sent you,
his phone number, and
delete him as a friend on
your Facebook page. The
next step is to take all of
the pictures that contain
him out of the frames.
Once the pictures are out
of the frames, fold them
in half. This task will
help you realize that you
are a perfectly capable
person without him. Put
the pictures in a folder,
and give it to your room
mate for safe-keeping.
You do not want to be
Accept cont. on pg. 8