Leadership is A Verb Blog

No matter where you are on your college journey, the start of the semester can be overwhelming. You have move in, orientation, getting used to waking up early😂. The start of the year is a busy time. Some of you are celebrating a return to freedom after a summer bid at home with your parents (just know they are just as ready for you to leave). Others are taking a deep breath before they start college for the first time, hoping they don’t starve because all they can cook is popcorn. And then you have the seniors… exhaling because it’s their last time enjoying being a student on campus and stressing because they don’t have a job yet! One common theme in starting a semester is the unexpected. Today I want to deal with four of the most common issues students face at the start of a semester and give the #majorkey *DJ Khaled voice* to resolve the issues now and avoid drama in the future. 1. Class is FULL!! Major Issue – “What!? You have got to be kidding me, I can’t believe that my class is full, I need this class to graduate or stay on my degree plan.” Major Key – Calm down, your procrastination may not doom you this time. First look and see if the class is offered at a different time or with a different prof. If that fails, pay a visit to your favorite advisor, in person. Have your story ready because they’ll want to know what took you so long to sign up. With some luck your problem is solved here and you get an exemption to enroll in the course. For those still facing closed doors it’s time to go straight to the prof. It never hurts to ask (unless your school policy prohibits it) if the prof has room to open another spot on the roll. If the prof is feeling generous you’re set. If the final answer is ‘no’ and the class is not urgent, use the opportunity to take an elective or double dip in your major/minor reqs – always find the silver lining. If the class is urgent, check back in with your advisor and see if there is an alternate you can take in its place. In the future, plan ahead of time and sign up for the popular classes first. It’s best to have at least two versions of your schedule prepared in case a class fills before you get to it. Bonus tip, see if there is something you can do to gain early access to scheduling. Some campuses have Honor Colleges, themed resident halls, or early admission access that can help you navigate the hustle and bustle of scheduling classes. 2. Last Year Wasn’t so Great… Do I Belong Here? Major Issue – Last semester was hard as H-E-Double Hockey Sticks and I’m not sure I’m cut out for college. Major Key – First, breathe! It’s okay. We all make mistakes. Heck, I had a 1.5 semester and if I can overcome that, you can overcome anything! Mistakes will make reaching your goals more challenging but not impossible. Take the first few days before classes start and evaluate where you got off track, identify strategies and resources to help you start strong and finish strong, then WRITE DOWN SEMESTER GOALS FOR: Amount of time you will spend studying Amount of time you will spend meeting with profs in difficult classes Your target GPA How often you will get tutoring/support How you will celebrate once you meet your goals Next, post these goals in a place where you can see them every day. It is also a good practice to share your goals with a mentor or peer you feel will hold you accountable to the goals you set. Having an accountability partner was my greatest asset in college and has helped me tremendously in life. In the future, remember that you are a student first and the main goal for attending college is to graduate!! Everything should be planned around your academic focus, not the other way around. Also, no one wants you to fail, there are plenty of resources available to help you succeed academically and more often than not they are free (writing labs, tutoring, office hours, peer reviews, etc.)! The catch is that you can’t wait until the last minute. CREATE THE HABIT OF TACKLING YOUR ASSIGNMENTS EARLY, REVIEWING AT LEAST ONCE, AND GETTING FEEDBACK – EVEN WHEN YOU DO WELL. 3. My Roommate Sucks!! Major Issue – My roomie is not my bestie and by not my bestie, I mean an evil spawn of foolery and shannagins! Major Key – I think most students have or will have some type of disagreement with their roommate at one point or another. It’s bound to happen so don’t feel bad if and when it happens. How you deal with the conflict should be your focus. Before you go to your RA and demand a trade, try actually speaking to your roommate. Conflict resolution is a valuable life skill and if its safe to do so, I encourage you to have challenging conversation with your roomie. Whatever the issue is, it can normally be resolved in a win/win situation that requires some communication and minimal compromise from both parties involved. Sleeping habits, boo-thangs (aka significant others), food, cleanliness, and privacy are the most fussed about issues amongst roommates. Taking the time to actually discuss and fill out the Roommate Contract BEFORE you get settled in will save you time, headaches, and from you waking up to your roommate playing world of war craft in full armor at 2am on a Tuesday. Set guidelines early and review them as often as needed, especially when there is change of life status; i.e. Getting boo’d up, joining a fraternity/sorority, starting a job, etc. In the future, don’t be quick to room with your best friend, it can be overwhelming to hang out with and then have to live with the same person day in and day out. That level of familiarity can lead to burn out. Conversely, don’t leave your living arrangements up to chance either. If you can, try to room with someone who has a similar major, social life, and study habits. Some campus’ have apps that match folks together like a dating app. Be honest about who you are now, not who you want to be! 4. I Just Miss My Mommy … I’m Mean I Just Missed My KNEE?? Major Issue – You miss home, home cooked meals, your bed at home, your annoying sibling at home, the house rules that used to get on your nerves at home, and even the animated cartoon with Rhianna Home. Major Key – Being homesick happens. Stop fronting and embrace it. Call your parents and let them know you miss them. They might drop a few dollars in your account. *Note to readers: please do not manipulate your parents love for a few dollars in your account. If you broke then fix your pockets; word to SchoolBoy Q!!* Whether you are a freshman or a 6th year senior, missing your parents is a natural and healthy emotion. Don’t tell anyone, but I would shed a few tears every time I left to go back to school. My family was just tight like that. It is important to deal with your emotions in a positive and effective way. Joining an organization, participating in study groups, and organizing a pot luck, are great ways to get a sense of family and community on your campus. Joining groups that connect with you culturally, ideologically, or with similar hobbies or interest can help you feel more at home on campus. Getting involved on campus helps to make it feel more like home and can anchor you to the place where you’ll be spending the next few years of your life. In the future it’s good to plan your trips home for the semester. Not too often but find a number that gives you room to grow but still a break to look forward to. This way you know when you will see them. It’s all mental and this trick works every time! Also, get your parents to make your favorite meal and then freeze it. When you are really missing home, thaw it out and enjoy it when you are missing home or having a tough day. It won’t be exactly the same but it will give you a quick fix until your next visit home. There is a difference between missing home and depression. If you can’t tell the difference, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Go speak to the many resources on your campus to maintain and improve your mental health. Don’t be embarrassed about your emotions, surround yourself with people that can empower you to manage them!  These 4 Major Issues can be a lot to deal with and can get your semester off to a rough start. Hopefully these #majorkeys will help you navigate through them so you can get back making #LEADERSHIPAVERB.