With the holiday period coming to an end, as evident by our fading suntans and from the summer stories that are becoming more and more nostalgic, it’s time to move on from any residual melancholy and welcome another new beginning. The new semester is here filled with new challenges, new people to meet, new knowledge to gain!
While you’re landing back to the autumn reality of things, here’s a few pointers that will help make it a little bit simpler and a little more seamless:
Back to reality tip 1: Preparation is the biggest stress reliever! Take time to go through everything that you will need to have ready prior to the start of the year. Find your lessons, check their weekly times, make sure your schedule is on point! Being ahead of the game will have you avoiding the dreaded “last minute” stress we all know and fear!
Back to reality tip 2: Read up! A lot of times, the people that excel the most in their chosen field of study are the ones that are already highly engaged with the material they are about to face in their lessons. Consume everything you can during this period and its guaranteed that it will pay back in spades! University performance has a lot to do with the level of comfort a student has with her/his material so reading up in advance is essential in getting into a flow before the game even begins!
Back to reality tip 3: Get your house in order! An ideal leaving environment is key in making sure your mind is on point with doing high-level uni work. If you are already in a house, make sure that everything is set, your internet bill’s paid, the things you displayed and/or lost during the summer’s “easy living” are found or replaced and your wardrobe is equipped with the right kind of clothing. Also, make sure you have a full fridge-no one works well on coffee only! If you are in the process of finding a new house, then make sure you do it early so that you have enough time to move in and do all the above before the semester kicks in! in both cases, good housemates are essential in making the transition go a lot smoother! Choose them even more carefully than your house because they can be a great help during your student life or the opposite- a severe distraction.
Back to reality tip 4: Go social! Get together with your uni-friends, go back to your favorite spots, revisit your existing social habits and create new ones with new people. If you’re just starting, meet as many other students as possible, join as many clubs as you can and interact with the student community often! This is the part that makes your student experience exciting. And remember – a healthy social life is another ingredient in reaching your full potential!
Back to reality tip 5: Know your city! Every September things start happening in every city, from theatre premiers to concerts to parties. Stay tuned-in and experience your city as much as possible! The more you engage with the happenings of your extended living environment the more comfortable you’ll be in your everyday life and work!
Hope this helps! Enjoy your year and see you soon at campus!