Just Need Somebody To Lean On

Photo by Reilly Peuser

The only thing getting me through college right now is the fact that I have an amazing support system in not only my family but also my friends.

College is great in the aspect that you meet and make so many wonderful people. You develop friendships that will last a lifetime.

When in college, it is important to surround yourself with friends that share the same values as you - one of which I hope is the importance of an education. 

I have found a great group of people that give me emotional support for the hard days and physical support for when I fall down the stairs. Find you a group of friends that will help you when you fall down the stairs.

Stressed Out

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Sometimes college can give you that inevitable feeling that you are drowning. Whether that be from homework, work itself, roommate drama, or just not adjusting very well, everyone will feel the stress at sometime or another.

Luckily for you, there are ways to lessen its impact.

A great stress reliever for some people is hitting the gym.

For a short amount of time you can take your mind off the stress and the struggles of college life and just run (or bike, if you are like me).

You can also go to the FREE counseling services at Washburn!

It sometimes helps to just get some stuff off your chest every now and then, and this is a great way to do that! The person you are talking to doesn't know the person you are talking about, so that is also another plus.

Another great person to confide in is your teacher. They don't know you are struggling unless you tell them so talking to them about it is always a good idea.

Don't wait until the last second to do your assignments.

I know, it's hard not to just put it off and do other "important" things instead (i.e. watch Netflix and pig out), but you will be way less stressed out in the long run if you just do it when you can.

Stress may be inevitable, but there are ways to cope with it. Don't let it get so bad that your stress has stress, just get the help and do whatever you need to do to make college a little easier on yourself.

If you need some good stress relieving tips, go to http://campusmindworks.org/students/self_care/managing_stress.asp

Need A Little Help From My Friends

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If there is one thing I have learned from my time in college thus far, it is that high school didn't prepare me - at all.

I didn't know how to study, I didn't know what to prioritize when I was "studying", and I certainly didn't know how to get a tutor.

One thing that is great about college, especially here at Washburn, is that we have some fantastic tutoring services.

Whether it be through the library or the department itself, there are tutors for EVERYTHING. Math? We got them. History? We got them. Any struggles you are having in a class, there is most likely a tutor for it.

One thing to keep in mind if you do get tutors is you shouldn't be ashamed that you need one. Everyone struggles with something in their lifetime and if yours just happens to be a Statistics class, then so be it.

You should be proud of yourself for recognizing that you need the help. Just know that it is okay to get a little help from a friend every now and then.

If you would rather just get online help, http://www.tutor.com/ is a good website to go to!

How to Survive in the Dorms

Photo Courtesy of Reilly Peuser

Living in the dorms is one of the best parts of college. New friends, great memories, an all around great experience right? Well, sort of.

Life at the dorms is not all rainbows and butterflies all the time, so it is good to know how to cope with it.

1. Make friends in different rooms.

You and your roommates will not always get along. Just expect that to happen. So it is always good to make friends outside your room to be your safe haven when you just can't take it anymore.

2. Communicate.

Communication is key. One thing that is good to enforce in your room, like I did in mine, is an honesty policy. Anytime that someone does something to upset you, you enforce the honesty policy and tell them. It will work out for the better if you do.

3. Forgive and Forget.

Holding grudges won't do you any good either. You just need to learn to let things go and move on. It will not only help you in college, but in life. Trust me.

Life won't always be easy and it won't always be fun, but if you can learn some good tips to handling your living situation, it will be far easier.

Why Can't We Be Friends?

If you were to ask someone what was the first thing they did when they got to college they might say "Unpack my stuff" or "Said goodbye to my parents" but what they should have said was "I made friends".

Making friends in college is one of the easiest and the hardest things to do.

It is easy because you are instantly friends with people when you walk in the door - your roommates! But it is also hard because you make so many new friends that you can't remember every ones names so you feel like a jerk when they remember yours but you have no idea who they are.

Here are my tips to making friends in college.

Actually socialize.

It is awkward for everyone when you just stand there looking like a deer in the headlights when someone says "Hi". Plus, you get to know people better when you have a two person conversation - imagine that!

Put yourself out there.

You never know who you will meet when you just go out and do things! There are tons of fun activities and interactive things to do on campus so you never have a reason not to.

If you forget their names, go with something generic.

When in doubt, always go with buddy, girl, pal, or just plain friend. This still acknowledges that you remember them without having to say their name that you don't know!

Making friends may be difficult at times, especially if you are shy, but it is the easiest way and best way to fall in love with your school more and more each day. Treasure the friends you have, but always be willing to make more.