A Letter to Future College Students

           

Don't stress out like this guy, follow these tips

When I started college earlier this year, I had quite a few difficulties. From paying for classes on time, to moving in, and even stress over classes, this semester has run me ragged. It is times like this that I think to myself, “I really wish I would have known what I was getting into!” It would have been nice to receive helpful tips on how to deal with being a new college student. I am positive that I am not the only one who has thought this, so for the sake of others who are starting college soon, I want to give a few helpful tips on what to do and what to expect during your first semester in college.

One of the smartest things to do before you start college is to get your money situation under control. There are many ways to pay for college, from scholarships, to loans, or, if you are lucky, getting your parents to pay for it. However, the thing that matters most is that you pay early. Paying for your tuition and fees early eliminates any chance of getting cut from your classes for forgetting to pay (which almost happened with me), and helps you to better focus on classwork. For different reasons, you may not be able to pay in full before the semester starts, but it really is a good idea to get it done so no future problems pop up.

A typical dolly

The next tip I have is simple. If you are plan to live on campus bring a wheeled moving dolly on move in day! Luckily, I had one, and it saved me from having to do a lot of strenuous lifting and carrying. I put the boxes on and rolled it up to my room. In my opinion, a tool like this is crucial to having an easy move in, plus it is really fun to play around with!

 The last tip I have for you is perhaps the most important. The secret to success in college is good time management. College is going to be a lot more difficult than high school, so you are going to need to adjust accordingly. Studying for thirty minutes is not going to cut it anymore. As a University of Michigan website points out, for every one credit hour a student takes, he or she should study for two to three hours per week. For example, if you are taking twelve credit hours in a semester, you should expect to study for 24 to 36 hours per week. I know, this sounds like way too much studying for just a few classes, but it really does make the difference. Though you need to study as much as you can, you should not always be cooped up in your room looking over your books. College is the time to have fun, and it is a great idea to relieve some stress by unwinding with friends or getting involved in an on-campus group. Spending some time away from the books will keep you from going crazy and allow you to relax. I do have to warn you though, you must make sure that you maintain a good balance of studying and relaxation. If you do not, you will either tire yourself out from too much studying or not study enough, and both of these paths can create some big problems. Just remember, good time management is key.

I really hope that these tips can help you succeed in college. These are the kind of things that can help you make your college years a less stressful time in your life. Of course, there are many more tips on the web, like this tip list from Psychology Today, which can help you get through college. With all of this new information I have given you, I only have one more thing to say: Good luck!

A Reflection on the Experiences I have had with the Lamar Tennis Club

As you may have figured out, I am a freshman here at Lamar University. When I first started school, I had trouble finding activities to do in my free time. Though I liked sitting around and relaxing in my dorm, I did not want to spend every minute of my free time in a tiny room by myself, so I began to look for things to do. One of the first activities I stumbled upon was a tennis club that a few people were trying to start up here at Lamar. I played tennis in high school and quickly fell in love with the sport. Initially, I was worried that I would not be good enough since I had not played in a while, but I went for it anyway. Since I made the decision to join about two months ago, I now reflect back on it and think that it was one of the best decisions I have made in college so far, other than deciding to wake up every morning and go to class of course. The skills I have learned and the great friends I have made since joining has made this endeavor worthwhile.

Looking back on the last two months with the tennis club, I see that I have had many great experiences and learned many new skills. First off, I have learned how to build a club. At the beginning, it was just me and a few other guys. Since then, we have brought in over a dozen great players who enjoy the club just as much as I do. From organizing our Facebook page, Orgsync page and setting up practices, it is a lot of work to run a club. Overall, these jobs have helped me become a more organized person as a whole. 

Another thing that I can look back on are the new skills I have learned and my overall improvement as a tennis player. Over the past two months, I have improved all aspects of my game tremendously. This improvement is mostly thanks to my friends Jason and Sam, whom are both phenomenal players, who donated their time to help me out. Reflecting on their generosity, I really hope that one day I can become good enough at tennis to teach others the game that I love so much, just as they do.

My double partner Sean and I after we finished a match.

The last thing I can reflect on are the friendships I have formed with some of my teammates. From going to tournaments or just hitting around after practice, I have learned so much about the lives of the people around me and found a few true friends that I could rely on. The first person I hit it off with the was my doubles partner Sean. He has lived a different life than mine, but he is a really nice guy and a real joy to be around. After practice, I always find myself talking or hitting with him. To me it seems like I finally made a good friend here at Lamar.

Now that I have been in the club for a couple of months, I can look back and reflect on these great experiences. From learning how to get a club going, to obtaining new skills, and finally making new friends, I believe that joining and participating in the tennis club was a great choice. Hopefully, I can continue to participate in the club and gain more experiences and memories that I can keep with me forever.

What Was Once Lost is Now Found: How I Regained the Feeling of Comfort and Security in a New Place

Throughout my life, I have been what one could call a “sheltered child.” I was raised in a stable home with loving parents, three siblings, and everything I could ever need. My family took care of me and I found comfort in this safe and happy environment. This is how the past eighteen years of my life has been, but a few months ago everything changed: I moved off to college. Living on campus at Lamar University has definitely been a drastic change from my childhood in a comfortable home. I have had to deal with the struggles of living on my own and adjusting to this new environment. From the day I moved in, I was faced with problems that were completely new to me. I had to organize and move everything in my dorm on my own, rely on myself for food, and I even had the worry of making new friends and meeting the roommate I would have to spend the next year with. All of this was mind-blowing to me;  I had been taken care of my whole life, but now I was sent off on my own into this big wondrous world with little to build off of. What would I do? How could I regain the comfort and security I once had?

             

The answers to these questions took me a while to figure out, but a few weeks into my time here, I came up with a solution: I needed make this new place my own. The comfort I enjoyed throughout my childhood was given to me by my family, but now it was my turn. I needed to give myself the comfort, security, and confidence I once had so I venture towards a successful future. Though there were not many things I could do around campus to help with this problem, the one place I knew I could manipulate to my liking was my dorm. In my little twelve foot by ten foot room, I could do whatever I wanted to make things just as comfortable as my life at home. I decorated the room with the things that made me happy. I covered the walls of my room with joyful pictures of family and friends, and posters of activities I enjoyed, like tennis or studying history. I decorated my desk with pictures of my lovely girlfriend, and put a few of my favorite books and movies on my shelf. Along with the bright colors of my sheets, a comfortable chair to relax in, and all kinds of tennis stuff, I made this once barren room all my own: my personal escape. Now, at the end of a long tough day, I can whisk away to this comfortable and safe environment, sit in my chair, read a good book, and get away from all of the stresses of college. This room has become my home away from home and has, once again, given me the comfort and safety I cherish.

       

My escape from the struggles of college.

 At the beginning of this semester, I was mourning the loss of the comfort and security of my childhood home. I felt alone, and I could not figure out what to do about this dilemma. This semester turned course when I decided to obtain the comfort I was looking for by making it myself. Since then my dorm has become my sanctuary, the place I can go to get away from stress and relax in the presence of the things that I love. Even though I left behind my loved ones and the things I found comfort in back home, I no longer feel alone. With my regained comfort and security, I have found the drive to live life just as I once had and head into the future with the same courage and confidence that led me to college in the first place.