Meet Mahogany Wells! She is sophomore Marketing major from Jonesboro, AR.
It’s a new semester, a new environment, a new city for most, and it’s your student’s first time being away from home. It can be a lot to manage all at once, and it’s very easy to get overwhelmed. In the beginning it won’t be easy to manage; however there are a few tips I can give to make it easier for your student to tackle the many obstacles freshman year will throw at them.
- Remember your goals. To be frank, college isn’t free and we’re all here for a reason. If your student keeps that reason at the forefront of their mind, they can’t lose. Remembering their goals will keep them motivated when things begin to get tough.
- Get Involved. A really great way to keep things balanced during freshman year, is to get involved on campus. Whether that be with a religious organization, athletics, Greek life, or a club, being a part of something that they enjoy will help your student feel more comfortable and adjust better to campus life. For instance, the New Student and Family Programs office has many different areas of involvement for all kinds of students who are interested in all kinds of things. Whether that be Parent and Family Ambassadors, R.O.C.K. Camp, or Cardinal Nights, there’s something available for everyone.
- Find your people. Finding a friend group or friends with similar goals and interests, is a great way for your student to keep their mind sane and to stay motivated. If your student has like minded people in their circle, they’ll be just fine
- Prioritize. I cannot stress this last point enough. Prioritizing what’s important, such as, grades, involvement, health, etc. will help your student keep everything together. Stress comes from when someone forgets their goals and what they’re here for, and then they place priority over things that don’t matter. Keeping up with a planner, setting short term goals, and cutting back on things that are a distraction will help your student hold it all together during their freshman year.
These tips are just a few that I used to help me keep it together my freshman year of college. It’ll be a tough adjustment, but if your student remembers their goals, gets involved, keeps likeminded people in their circle, and prioritizes, they’ll have a great year.