Finding Your Balance in College

Coming to college can be one of the biggest changes in a person's life. Moving away from home, meeting new people, and adjusting to college-level courses can all be challenging.

There are many resources to help students prepare for the transition to college life; some lessons can only be learned through experience.

What are the things students wish they had known before starting college? Several upperclassmen shared their thoughts.

Many people talk about the importance of sleep, yet it is often the most overlooked aspect of health. With clichés such as "there aren't enough hours in a day," sleep is often the first thing sacrificed when life gets busy.

Junior AnnaSophia Bradshaw said that when she came to college, she "underestimated how important a full night of sleep was."

Sleep can make the difference between understanding material in class or struggling to keep up. It can affect test performance, concentration, and overall well-being.

College students often have busy schedules, and getting enough rest can make even the busiest days more manageable.

In most high schools, students attend seven or eight classes during a seven- or eight-hour school day. In college, students may have only four classes with larger gaps between them. This transition can upend a student's daily routine.

Junior Aelyn Baumbarger said she wishes she had better understood how differently time works in college compared to high school.

Junior Michael Hess shared a similar perspective, saying that he wished he had realized how much of college work you complete outside of class.

Sophomore Kaylee Lusk reflects on the struggles of knowing how to schedule her days and keeping track of everything. Learning how to manage time can be one of the biggest challenges for new college students.

Being surrounded by new people can also present challenges.

Junior Haliey Harris said there are many opportunities available if students are willing to ask.

Putting yourself out there and interacting with people outside your usual social circle can open doors to new opportunities. Attending a campus event, starting a conversation with someone new, or asking a professor a question can all lead to unexpected opportunities.

Whether it is learning how to manage a college workload, understanding the importance of sleep, or gaining the confidence to meet new people, there are lessons that students learn throughout their college experience.

These valuable experiences help shape who they are and what they know. In turn, they can pass that wisdom on to younger students, helping them navigate the challenges of college and perhaps avoid learning every lesson the hard way.