Coming into my first semester in college, I had no idea what I should expect. I set my expectations way too high for how quickly I would become adjusted to college life and make relationships while keeping a steady schoolwork schedule at the same time. I was quickly hit with the harsh reality that it takes some time to settle into all this, and I had many feelings of doubt and loneliness. I ended up settling for the wrong crowd. I connected with and hung out with people who damaged my self-esteem and mental health, and encouraged me to be involved with things that were not of my character. It took over a couple of months until I was finally able to officially cut them out and find the right crowd of friends who care about me and make me feel good, rather than bad. Looking back, that was a major hurdle that deeply affected me during my first semester, and I am glad I was able to recognize it and overcome it by finding the right people.
Another obstacle I faced last semester was finding enough balance to make time for studying and homework. I prioritized everything such as relationships, working out, and cleaning my room over my classes. This resulted in me getting school assignments done last minute or late, which caused way too much stress. While all the priorities I listed above are very important during your time in college, it is crucial to be able to balance it out with your schoolwork. Because of all the new and exciting aspects of being at university, I procrastinated until the due date and would wind up having a small window of time to get papers and exams done, which resulted in mediocre grades. I rarely studied, which led to me almost failing my final biology exam. I overcame this hurdle by finding time during my free days to head over to the library or University Union and work on school assignments before the due date. This has helped me tremendously to have less stress and anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. Another way I overcame this was by studying and getting homework with my friends, that way I can keep my social life while also being productive and maintaining good grades.