By: Olivia Vadnais
One thing I was constantly worried about when it came to college was being able to balance my studies with my social life and making friends. I wanted to perform well in school but I also wanted to be able to reach out and make friends in a fun and exciting new environment. Comparing my first semester to now (with only four weeks left in my freshman year), I can see how my habits have changed and shifted for the better.
A part of my study habits that have helped me tremendously this semester versus last is the ability to develop a routine for my days in order to complete work. Last semester I felt uncomfortable being alone and trying to find a perfect place to study/work between classes so I would always waste time by going back to my room. However, I have found that I am comfortable alone and work better in a different place than my room, which can tempt me to lie in bed or succumb to some other distraction. Now each day I have a routine between classes that I enjoy. Whether it be with friends or alone, I am able to be productive throughout the day.
Socially, I think this semester has allowed me to take a step back and focus on myself rather than other people. Arriving at UMass in the fall, I didn’t have a set group of friends, nor did I know many people prior to attending like I always had at home. I was so focused on putting myself out there and making friends that I would avoid studying or completing work because I said yes to any opportunity to make a friend. While that wasn’t inherently a bad thing and I did end up making some good friends, it definitely took away my productivity and added a lot of stress to my life. While I still enjoy spending time with my friends, I don’t mind taking a night off from going out or staying in and completing an assignment when everyone else wants to hang out.
Putting both these aspects together, it may seem difficult to find a balance between the two. However, I have learned that it is not as hard as it sounds. I don’t feel the need to go out every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. If I have an assignment to complete or just need to catch up on sleep, I’m okay with staying in and I can do so without FOMO or feeling like I’m being left out of a group. I have found that the ‘Sunday Scaries’ aren’t that bad when you’ve completed almost everything by a Friday night. Of course, this isn’t always the case. Occasionally I’ll put off the essay until the last few days because I’d rather have a Harry Potter marathon and order pizza with my friends. But I think that’s the point: it’s all about balance. The memories I get to make and enjoy with those I love and appreciate sometimes outweigh getting a head start on an assignment. I think that as my college career goes on, I’ll hopefully be able to balance this even better and become an even more responsible and productive student and person.