Spring is in the Air

The morning crunch of frosted blades of grass echoes against the familiar buildings as herd of students make their way to campus. The chill of the morning air brushes softly against the rested faces. It’s time for clean new shoes, trendy new outfits, and fresh haircuts. It’s spring time. While spring semester might not bring warm weather, morning showers, or tulips just yet, it is certainly a chance to start all over again. Here are some things to keep in mind as you embark on this new adventure.

The first impression is vitally important to our relationships with others. Most people make up their mind about acquaintances within the first few minutes of meeting them. Therefore, what you wear, how energetic you seem, and how you carry yourself can make a substantial difference. On the first day, skip the sweatpants and throw on a pair of jeans or a nice dress with tights. Dressing appropriately for your first meeting with your teachers shows them how seriously you are willing to take their class. They’ll appreciate the effort and have faith that you are putting effort into the assignments. Always try to be upbeat when meeting new people, as well. A smile can bring you incredibly far and will make you seem friendly, likeable, and approachable.

Next, come prepared. Order books in advance for your classes so that you don’t fall behind within the first week. On the first day, bring something to write with, a notebook, and a planner. By starting out organized, you will be much calmer going into difficult classes, and much more likely to stay organized. You should also print a copy of your schedule with assigned room numbers the night before so that you aren’t late on the first day.

Go to your career center. This might sound odd or irrelevant, but it is best to start planning early for internships, graduate school, or careers. Regardless of what year you are in, there are plenty of resources for students at all stages of the process. For instance, freshmen should write out their resumes and have them reviewed by the career center. Understanding how you look on paper to potential employers and graduate schools will help you understand your strengths and focus on improving your weaknesses. Going early on will also help you avoid the panic rush at the end of the semester when people start scrambling to start the job or graduate school application process, and it will keep you up to date on deadlines or deliverables that should be completed.

Finally, have fun. Go to a basketball game, play some volleyball when the weather gets nice, or indulge in some Midnight Breakfast. It will go by faster than you can imagine, so enjoy it.