by Courtney Kelly

Created on: September 18, 2008

Having graduated college just recently, it is easy to reflect on the early mistakes I made during my first semester. Entering into your first year of college is exciting, and daunting. There is a lot of paperwork, scheduling and planning to be taken care of before you even begin classes and plenty more once you start. Hopefully you will have a parent or a guidance counselor to help you with all of this in the beginning, but what actually happens when you start your first semester?

Time management is the biggest and most important lesson you will ever learn during your first semester at college. Many courses in this first semester will be easier than later semesters in order to give you a chance to learn to organize your time; however, don't be fooled! This is not high school anymore, the course subject matter will be difficult, and you will be on your own to attend regularly and finish any projects. Take advantage of this first semester to develop habits and routines that will aid you in getting everything done, and on time. The easiest and most helpful tool: an agenda book. My college provided us with free agendas, and I regret not utilizing this helpful little book until the third semester! Now, I can't imagine living without one and I still use one today for work.

The second most important lesson you will learn is to Show Up to Class. You now have the option of coming to class, but please don't take advantage of this! Don't rely on the textbook to help you "get by" tests and projects. Lectures and classes are very important, and without them you face the probability of failure. A lot of material is covered in a short amount of time, so missing just a few classes can set you back ages!

For many of you, this will also be your first time living away from home. The added responsibilities of cooking and cleaning might not seem like a difficult prospect, but eating right and keeping everything tidy is actually quite time consuming! If at all possible, use the meal plan available at your college. This will allow you to eat well while learning time management.

College can be fun and exciting, but don't let the "college experience" get in the way of your studies. Remember, you are paying to be there! College will teach you many life lessons, as well as help you with a future career, as long as you take advantage of what your college and professors have to offer. Good luck and have fun!

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