Written by Andrea Flores-Gomez
Welcome class of 2027, your college experience has officially started! No more going to meetings about time management or learning about the syllabus in every single one of your classes. After your first two weeks here, you may have already learned some of the pros and cons of having this much freedom; for most of you it might be your first time living on your own. That is why I am presenting to you; “Surviving College 101”; a list of the basic things you will need to know to ensure you don’t crumble into a pile of stress and unwashed laundry.
- Sleep. The average young adult needs 7-8 hours of sleep *each day* to function at their full capacity. Now, an all-nighter here and there is totally okay. You’ll know it’s time for a nap when you start seeing the Hat Man baking cookies in the middle of the dorm bathrooms. In all seriousness, lack of sleep can cause hallucinations, slow your reaction time, and just make you feel awful in general.
- Eat. People joke that the “college diet” is based upon ramen and energy drinks. Although that may work for short term energy, it will just come back to bite you in the long run. If you have a meal plan on campus, make sure to use your swipes wisely and eat a balanced meal (protein, carbs, veggies, dairy) that will help you get through the day without feeling like crashing as soon as you see anything remotely shaped like a bed. Treats and low effort meals are okay and totally encouraged by me, just remember that those won’t give you the strength you need to go through the semester.
- Socialize. Humans are a social species; we thrive with human interaction. You don’t have to go to a party every weekend to fulfill your needs for human contact; simply getting involved in campus with clubs, FOTQ, sports, or just any fun event and activity can help you feel more involved, help you meet new people, and give you a sense of belonging.
Our goal here is to thrive, and part of that is taking care of your basic needs. All this advice looks obvious, but a lot of people forget to take care of themselves. Succeeding academically is important but at the end of the day we are human, and your wellness is what matters the most.
