Author: Aurelian 271

While college might seem overwhelming, and trust me it will seem overwhelming at some point, just take it day by day. I won’t lie, it hasn’t been easy, and it certainly hasn’t been without its flaws, but it hasn’t been absolutely awful either. Ever since I started college, I’ve noticed that I have less time to do the things I used to enjoy doing. I don’t play video games with my friends as much as I used to, I don’t hang out with my friends as much as I used to, and I barely have time for myself to collect my thoughts. I tend to spend most of my time nowadays either doing work for my classes or going to work to pay for my classes. However, despite all these factors, college has been, so far, the best time of my life. Granted, I’ve only experienced 21 years of life on this planet, so I, hopefully, have a long while to go yet, but college has been a lot of fun. From meeting new people in my classes, discovering my true interests within different classes, and trying to figure out problems that need solving…college provides you with a set of skills that people will need in the future.

To be successful in college, remember that everything besides family and friends is secondary. You are, most likely, paying for your schooling; your education comes first before almost all things. If you find yourself struggling with your work-school life, then perhaps fewer hours at work is something to think about. If you are struggling with a class, then go to the professor. The professors might seem intimidating, but they are, in my experience, the nicest people you will ever meet. They want you to succeed in their class, to do well, and to discover a passion for the subject they teach. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! People are more than glad to help whenever they can! However, you need to set aside time for yourself. If you just keep on going and going with school and work, you will become burnt out and give up on something. Find time within your day, or even within your week, to go out with friends, read a book, or do something that you enjoy. Be diligent about your school, but remain vigilant about yourself and your well-being.

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I would say that, as of right now, only a few things are stressing me out. One is two of my classes that involve math, which is a subject I despise. The others are just things that I need to catch up on, which is easily remedied. I do not enjoy math, at all. It is something that I just can’t get, can’t remember, and refuse to do math every chance I can get. My hatred of math started in high school, when I had to take geometry. I’m fine with other math, like algebra or basic addition and subtraction. Yet, when it comes to finding out the circumference of a circle, or the area of a square, I just fail to solve those questions. I know that I am required to take a certain amount of math courses before I can graduate, and I had figured that I might as well rip off the band-aid and get them over with, but I had forgotten just how much I actually hate math. I honestly probably just need to study the material more, look up videos that go over the material, or set up a time with the professors so I could get more one-on-one with them, so all hope is not yet lost.

The other stressors are easily fixed. It is more stuff that I need to catch up on or take classes step by step. I should actually say that the material that I need to catch up on isn’t because I’ve fallen behind, it’s more so that I’m unhappy with the quality of the work I’ve done. I’ve started to slack in some areas that I should not be slacking in, and I need to set aside some time in order to provide that class with the quality work that I know I can provide. For example, in my American History class to 1865, I often do subpar work, as I find the class remarkably boring. Or in my microeconomics class, I just need to slow down and actually read the questions, instead of just rushing through in order to get the work over with. However, most of my stressors are very easily fixed. I either need to set aside more time so I can improve my work, or I need to go to the professor directly for help.

Why I struggle with math

During these past two semesters, I have realized that many decisions I make have more dire consequences. For example, when I get home from school, I get the choice of studying, working on homework, or wasting away watching TV. Any blame for poor grades is placed on my shoulders, yes, but good grades make me feel wonderful about yourself. It is because what I chose allowed me to achieve those grades, and in the end, I know I made a good choice.

While it can be stressful juggling work, school, and my personal life, and making sure I do well overall, I do enjoy having the ability to choose what I want to do with my time. For example, last semester, often I had the choice of playing games with my friends or studying Human Bio. Sometimes I did choose my friends, but I did try to choose studying during any free time that I had. In the end, it paid off, as I did very well on all exams, including the final exam, and I was proud of my final grade. I would say that college is a good place to practice “being your own boss.,” as not only is it teaching you what you need for the rest of your life, but also time management and priorities. Overall, while it can be difficult to juggle everything, it is good practice for the future.
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