Advice for Incoming Freshmen

Hello again, everyone!

I hope you are all enjoying your summer. This is a post specifically for my readers who are incoming college freshmen.  It is still surreal to me that I am now done with college and am now living the adult life. I will always have fond memories of my college days and the past four years have been so incredible. If your nervous or scared about starting your new adventure, please don't be, It is an exciting and wonderful time, and I want to encourage you to cherish every second of it, even if you are feeling intimidated. I get it, change is not always easy. We all love comfort and routines. While it can be difficult, it is so worth it. Here is a list of my best advice for you in regards to social life and academic life:

Social/Making new friends:

1.) Get plugged in right away.
Most universities will host an extracurriculars fair during the first couple weeks of school. Attend them and start talking with people. Find a sports team, club or organization that interests you, and go for it! Even if you feel awkward or shy, it is so worth it. I've met so many great people by attending these fairs and they have helped me feel more connected to my school and I've had a ton of fun.

2.) Keep you dorm room door open.
 Someone shared this piece of wisdom with me right before I arrived on campus, and I am so thankful they did.  I cannot tell you how many people I've became good friends with just by popping in to their open room and saying hello, or vice versa. Sometimes it's easy to want privacy or hide away when feeling nervous, shy, or downright scared, but resist the urge and keep your door open. People will stop by and introduce themselves. And if you see an open door, don't hesitate to stop by and get to know some folks.

3.) Get to know your RA (resident assistant) for your dorm's floor.
RAs are super helpful and no, they don't bite. They can help answer questions about school, living on campus, and they are the first people to go to for any issues regarding housing. My RAs were all very friendly and made a huge effort to know all their residents, create fun get-to-know-you/ice breaker events, and some of them became wonderful friends. They will help you settle in and get acclimated and they might even give you some fun treats and surprises every once in a while.

Academics:

4.) Learn to love your syllabus.
Most professors will not remind you of due dates because they include all the important dates and assignments on their syllabus. It is your job to save that packet in a safe place, and record all the dates in your agenda or planner. I always highlighted the dates in my syllabus, and then made sure to write them down in my agenda ASAP. I never forgot a single assignment or turned anything in late. (Late penalties hurt your grade A LOT)

5.) Find a tutoring/study group.
Group tutoring/studying is a great way to review the info you learned in class, ask questions, and stay motivated. All my tutors were super helpful, patient, and constantly encouraged me to put forth my very best work. They can give you tips for how to become more effective at studying, and share some test-taking strategies that really work. These sessions are wonderful because everyone who attends wants to be there and get better, and in my experiences, we all motivated one another to do well in school.

6.) Create and stick to a study schedule. College is busy and hectic. I was a student-athlete, volunteered as a copyeditor, and played intramural volleyball, and did my best to maintain a social life with friends. The only way I was able to be successful was by creating a study schedule each semester and sticking to it no matter what. I made sure to dedicate time for completing homework, studying for quizzes and exams, and for writing papers each day. Even if I got tired or felt like motivation was slipping away, I found ways to remind myself to sit down and hit the books. Off you fail to do this, it will show in your performance. Don't get lazy. Success relies on self-discipline.

That's all for now. Remember to savor every minute of this fun and exciting time. You are going to do so well and I'm excited for all of you. Feel free to comment with more advice and./or questions. I absolutely love doing posts like this. Enjoy!

XOXO

Chloe

Bye-Bye Boredom!

Hi there, everyone!

I hope your summer is off to a great start. I really love this time of year. Sunshine and warm weather and longer days make for a lovely combo. It's funny how many people my age say they're always bored. It's weird hearing them say "I just can't wait for summer" all school year, but as soon as summer finally comes, their tunes change and they begin to say "I'm so bored. There's nothing to do." If you find yourself saying these things, I'm here to help you out. I want you to enjoy as much of the season as possible and have a lot of fun. Here's a list of my favorite activities:

1.) Go for a walk, bike ride, jog, etc.
Whatever it is, get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sun. Exercise is not only good for your body, but also your mind. We all need fresh air. Every evening, I take a walk around my neighborhood and admire my neighbors' pretty flowers/landscaping, the cute ducks in the ponds, and it's always nice to see your neighbors and say hello.

2.) Volunteer
Whether you volunteer to help clean up parks, care for the animals in your local shelter, or help a neighbor with their house/garden/pets while they're on vacation, you will feel great about yourself and other people will thank you. The most joy comes from helping others with a cheerful attitude. I've volunteered to help my neighbor with her garden while she's away, and seeing how happy she is, makes me happy as well. She's even dropped off some of her crops as a way to say thanks. Caring for something or somebody other than yourself is the ultimate way to feel satisfied.

3.) Try cooking and/or baking.
I'll admit that I am not the best cook. I do love baking, and have been baking a lot recently. I'm learning to be a better cook as well and I'm having a ton of fun in the process. I use websites like epicurious.com, and food.com as well as Pinterest to find easy recipes I can try. I love learning new things and working with my hands, so it's been a great way for me to stay entertained and learn a little bit each time I cook and bake.

4.) Visit a museum
I have a special place in my heart for museums. Call me a nerd, but I find a lot of them fascinating because I love history and learning. There's so much I still don't know about, and if I keep my mind curious, then it is really hard for me to be bored.

5.) Spend time at your local library.
I am so grateful that my house is only a couple of minutes away from the library. It's a great place to wander around and get lost in amazing literature. Even if you don't like reading now, I encourage you to just go to the library, pick up a book that looks interesting to you, and start reading. Reading for fun is a habit that is essential. Reading teaches you and helps you practice things like critical thinking, creativity, empathy, and so much more. If you don't have a library card, it is super easy to get one and you'll soon find yourself constantly checking out great books.

Well, that's all for now. Go out there and have some fun! Happy summer adventures!

XOXO

Chloe