By Staff Writer: Julia Simmons
Photo Credit: Julia Simmons
So, welcome to ENMU, and welcome to college! You’ve probably been hearing about nothing but college for the last few years- where do you want to go, what will you write about for your essay, what will you major in when you get there? And you’re likely excited to be here, finally here, and you’re jumping into school activities and throwing yourself into a new social life. It’s awesome!
Maybe you’ve never been away from home for this long. Maybe you’re feeling homesick for meals with your family or missing hanging out with friends. Or maybe you couldn’t care less about home, and everything at Eastern seems great to you!
But here we are, a few weeks into classes. Everything is catching up to expectations. At least when I was a first-year student, my classes were the last thing on my mind. I assumed they would be easy, and that I could put in minimum effort and slide through to the next class. College lasts four years- or more! – and the first semester should be simple, right? The truth is, some courses will feel easier than others, but in general, college takes more effort. You’re learning about things you’ll use the rest of your life- this isn’t busy work. You might already be feeling some burnout.
College is an opportunity, and it is what you make of it, but take some time to unwind. Treat yourself sometimes! Read something that isn’t required for class, and a walk around campus is a great break between drafts of an essay. Stay caught up with assignments, try not to get behind, but keep up with your favorite sports teams too. Watch a silly movie that lets you turn your brain off.
There’s a lot of ‘new’ that comes with your first semester of college, but take a deep breath. You aren’t the first freshman to feel this way, and you won’t be the last. This chunk of life may feel daunting, but you’re here. You started. Might as well see where it leads.