Author: Mangoesss

Before arriving at college I wasn’t sure if I would be successful or happy. After being at UWGB for over two months now, I definitely think I am successful, but I could still improve on some aspects. For the main part I found a lot of things that have helped me survive college this far. The first being time management. I believe this is the most important skill college students need in order to be successful. Time management helps me stay on top of things, decrease stress, and have time for hobbies or relaxing. I think other students can agree that managing time prevents people from falling behind, and it’s a skill that is also important in life outside of college. Another key component to being successful is having good studying skills. I usually look over my notes again and then make flashcards for anything I need help remembering. Typically if I have an exam coming up, I will start studying the day I find out about the exam. This way, I don’t cram my studying all in one night. Instead I study for at least 30 mins each day.

Besides time management and studying, going to events helps me be happy in college. I have found that attending events or joining a club makes college better. I usually go to the girls volleyball games with my boyfriend or any event we find interesting. I’m an introvert so I never thought I would actually attend events or clubs. I have gone to many events hosted by UWGB and I’m glad that I do because it’s a way to have fun and make new friends. Another tip to being happy is doing things you enjoy and that keep yourself busy. I have found that college students have more free time compared to high school students. I was worried I would just sit in my dorm all day after going to class. I have found that going to the Kress Center to workout after my class keeps me busy but also helps manage stress.

 Photo Credit: Mahopac Carmel

Living in the dorm in my opinion is better than I thought it would be. Before going to college I was worried what it would be like to live in a dorm. I thought I wouldn’t be able to sleep the first few nights or wouldn’t get my homework done but I was able to. Although living in a dorm isn’t that bad, I have found a few things that I don’t like about it. The first thing being the limited amount of space I have since I share a room. At home, I have a bunch of space for miscellaneous items around my room but now I don’t have space for them in my dorm. Another negative I have found while living in a dorm is being away from my family and needing to take care of myself when I am sick. I’m so used to having my mom give me tea or making soup for me so I feel better. Instead, I have to do it myself which is hard because I don’t have the energy to take care of myself, let alone get out of bed. The last thing I would complain about the dorms is that it seems like every night the fire alarm goes off. Luckily my building hasn’t had that happen yet but I can still hear the alarms and see blue and red lights outside my window. 

Source: bufordcoc.com

Although there are some negative things that come along with dorms, I have also found a lot of positives. At UWGB I get my own bathroom which I like a lot since most colleges have communal bathrooms. I find that having my own in my room is more convenient. I also feel comfortable in my dorm because I was able to decorate it with lights and posters to make it feel like I am still at home. Since I decorated it, I am able to do my homework. Another thing I like about living here is that I get along with my roommate. I share a lot of traits with her which makes living with each other easy. I am able to talk to her whenever and about whatever which makes me feel like I am not alone. I am not used to having someone living with me whom I can talk to because I am an only child so I find it nice. In my opinion, your experience living in dorms is mainly how you make it. If you decorate, make sure to be clean, and have a comfortable bed you’ll enjoy it more than you thought you would.

I am proud of myself for how I’m adapting to being away from home. I am from Shoreview, MN which is about four hours away from Green Bay. I was fine during the summer but right before I had to move I started to worry about whether I would be okay. I lived with my parents and my dog Bronn, who has separation anxiety. I think that was a big reason I didn’t know if I could survive being far away. If I slept over at a friend’s house for one night, Bronn would stay up by the door waiting for me to get home. I knew Bronn was going to come with my parents to drop me off. On the way to UWGB he looked so happy which made me feel bad since he didn’t know what was happening. Once my family left, I did experience some homesickness at first. It started after I settled in my dorm and didn’t have much to do before classes started. I would think about how far away my family and friends were, how I wasn’t familiar with the Green Bay area, and how lonely I felt. The next week I adapted to being away from home which surprised me how fast it happened. The main reason I was able to adapt is because I keep myself busy throughout the day.  

Since I occupy myself during the day I’m not able to think about how far they are from me. I started going to the gym, joined a club, watch Netflix, and have homework for my classes. I think another reason I was able to adapt to college is because my boyfriend also goes to UWGB. With him here, I feel less alone and it is like a part of home is here too.Besides, I am able to text or call my parents whenever I need to which eases my emotions. A smile appears on my face whenever I see a notification from my parents because it shows they miss me too. However, they seem to be going out on more dates ever since I left. I believe MN and WI are pretty similar so I forget I’m in a different state. To be fair, it helped me adapt to a new place that has finally felt like home. 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo credits: Ren Rader