First Semester Survival Guide

Everyone’s first semester at college is different. Sometimes you hear the horror stories; terrible roommates, early classes, and scary professors! But other times you hear about all the fun people have; going out and meeting new people, living on their own, and making friendships that could last a lifetime. For me my first semester at college has had its ups and downs but overall I have enjoyed my time at Southern.

I still can remember my first day. Driving around like a maniac trying to find a parking space all while having nervous butterfly’s in my stomach. What were my professors going to be like?? Who will be in my classes?? And now only 3 short months later I’m already done. I have changed a lot these last 3 months and learned a lot about myself. I’ve learned that:

1.) Hard work really pays off.

2.) You have to keep yourself organized.

3.) You need to move outside of your comfort zone.

You follow these 3 rules and BAM you are setting yourself up for success.

In college you need to realize when is a good time to go out and when is a good time to stay in. Sometimes I hear stories of students going out and forgetting about their test the next day, next thing they know they are failing that class. You need to constantly be working hard in all of your classes. I knew this going into my first semester. You need to have the correct mindset. My mindset was, and still is, “Get good grades or loose your spot in the nursing program.” I know in about a year and a half I will be fighting against hundreds of other students for a spot in Southern’s Nursing Program. If you enter College with the mindset that you want to succeed, you will, as long as you work for it.

Organization is key. In college you will not have a teacher who is going to remind you when something is due. You also do not have parents to remind you. This means it could be very easy for you to slack off or just to forget when something is due. This could happen to any of us. One way to try to prevent this would be to stay organized. For my first semester in college I have three different calendars all filled out with important due dates. This way everywhere I look I have a reminder. I also write out daily and weekly to do lists, and stick to them as well as I can. You need come up with your own way to stay organized; it will pay off in the end! I promise!!

In college you are free to do what you want. You want to be an active participant in your life, not just let it fly by. When you start college you think, “These are going to be the longest four, maybe even five years of my life.” But just think about it this way one semester is already over and done with. Only seven more left. Seven may sound like a lot but it’s not. What have you done this semester that has pushed your comfort zone?? If you cannot think of at least 3 different things you just let your first semester of college fly past you. You cannot get it back now. But do not worry you have seven more semesters left, DO NOT WASTE THEM!!

Good luck with your first semester of college! Make sure you remember to have fun!!