Author: Cristina Yang

Picking out the school you want to spend the next 4 years of your life at learning about what you are passionate about and want to make a career out of is one of the most nerve racking things ever. I picked UWGB because of how pretty and calm the campus was and the good education program they had. In high school they tell you that college is going to be so fun and laid back with the occasional thoughts of “ what am I doing with my life,” at 2 a.m. while writing a six page essay. Listen to all of that. Not even all the tips and tricks that you are given will really prepare you for college. You really are in for a wild ride but it’s worth it. A piece of advice that I was given and will always take with me and share is to just take it day by day. Not every day will be perfect and that is totally okay.

When it comes to picking out your schedule, one thing I recommend is not picking 8 a.m. classes because I promise you, you will not wake up on time unless you are an early bird. It is okay if you don’t integrate yourself into the school right away. It is a very good idea though to go to events because that is where you will find your potential friends but if you want to take some time for yourself and find your path that is okay too. Something that is very important to be successful is to create a routine. In your day find time to do your homework but also time for yourself to do something you like so you don’t over stimulate yourself. If you are living on campus, decorate your dorm like if you were in your actual room at home. 

 

After watching one of my favorite movies of all time- Pitch Perfect, it is safe to say that they definitely sugar coated what college was actually going to be like. I have yet to see people singing and dancing in every corner, and there has been zero rif-offs. I still have hope that I will get invited to my first sing-off but for now I’ll just practice singing in the shower. Now, I’m not saying that college hasn’t been a fun experience but there are some things that I thought would be different. The one thing I was most worried about was having tough teachers. I was all worried about nothing. All of my teachers are so down to earth and so polite. I am so grateful for the wonderful teachers that I got for my first semester of college. 

In high school, I was always told that you were going to be so busy, the workload was going to be so heavy that you weren’t going to have time for anything, and that you would be stuck in the library every day. So far that is not the case. Yes, I have work, but it’s not so much to the point where I am drowning in it. As time goes on, I believe that it will get a bit more hectic. One thing that has helped me stay sane and not go crazy with homework or just being stuck in my dorm all afternoon, is working. For a few hours, I get to get away from school life. Working in a hospital is hectic but it truly is the best decision I could have made for my mental health. Even though college isn’t exactly how I pictured it would, I am still enjoying every moment of it. Balancing time has been a bit of a struggle, but I have an amazing roommate, my teachers are all super nice, a job I can use as a getaway, and I am finally starting to find some friends.

 

After 18 years of being under my parents roof and following their rules, I don’t have to do that anymore. It is my time to shine. It honestly has been kind of fun not having an adult telling me to do this and that, or having to ask for permission to go out. A pro of being on my own is I can create my own schedule. I don’t have to worry about waking up at 6 a.m every morning and going to school for eight hours straight. With being in college, I was able to pick my classes at a certain time and day, so I get to sleep in some days or only have two classes in a day. I now have more time in my day to do things such as working, going to the gym, doing homework, and hanging out with friends. 

While yes it is very fun and thrilling to be on your own, it is also hard to manage all your free time and knowing when to say no to going out. Not going to lie, I want to go out all the time and just spend time with my friends. Going out every day is not very realistic though so I have been finding ways to occupy my time and distract myself from the temptation of going out. The way I have managed to stay in the area is by working. I work at Aurora Health Urgent Care and it is the best decision I could have made for myself. Not only am I keeping myself busy, I am distracting myself from my stressors and earning money, which we all need. Like most others I believe, I am still trying to find that balance with school, work, homework, and free time. Within the next couple of weeks, I know I will be able to find that balance.