Back to School Survival: Post Secondary

It's that time of year again. I don't know about other people, but I (Brittany) always felt like back to school was the start of a new year rather than the actual new year on January 1st. Something about going back felt like it was a fresh start. And with fresh starts comes ideas, goals, and prospects for the new semester. We have plans of how to study, to not procrastinate on our papers, and do better than last time. And if it's your first year of post secondary this all could feel even more overwhelming for you. Understanding expectations can be difficult as every class and professor is different. Who I was as a student in my first semester, first year looked very different compared to my last year and last semester.

So how do you survive the upcoming school year? What are your goals and how are you going to achieve them? Have you thought about this yet! 

Here are some tips we can provide based on our research and own experiences.

1. Textbooks: wait until your very first class to buy. I made the mistake of buying all my textbooks brandnew mostly before I attended the classes. BIG MISTAKE. Some professor's will tell you they don't use the textbook or they can tell you if older editions of the book are still acceptable. You can also buy used textbooks for sometimes cheaper than your bookstore through buy and sell pages on Facebook or sites like Kijiji. Take the time to explore and give yourself 2 weeks to look for books before you have to cave and buy in the bookstore.

2. Your schedule: know yourself. Are you most productive in the morning, afternoon, or evening? You have the option to tailor your schedule to what you need to be the best learner. Sometimes we don't have an option due to limited class time availability, but if you have the option do what's best for you.

3. Back up your work: I cannot even stress how important this is and how little I thought of it. While technology is wonderful in so many ways, it might not always be reliable. I have had my computer crash before and once when I was running on 4 hours of sleep accidentally exited out of my paper without saving it. Both times required me to start from scratch. Not only should you save it as you go, but back up your work to a drive of some sort like Google drive or the cloud allows you to be able to access your work on any computer.

4. Make the most of your post secondary experience: learn about what events are happening in and around campus, what clubs and activities are available, what services you can reach out to, and have fun while you can! First year is the time you can make the most of it as your grades are taken more seriously in your 2-3 years depending on the program you apply to if you are looking to pursue a masters or doctoral program. And guys, there are so many services. Counselling, gym, swimming, and even things like on site editors for your papers or resumes! Learn about your campus!

5. Look out for people: mental health problems such as anxiety and depression can be quite common and suicide rates among post secondary students has risen. You would be surprised with how many people present themselves as being fine but are truly struggling internally. There can be a lot of pressure and sometimes all it takes is talking to someone, especially someone who raises some concerns. We're all struggling together in one way or another, so let's support one another during times where it's hard to be strong for ourselves. 

University can be such a huge learning curve no matter the year you are in. Just when you think you got it, it can throw a curve ball at you. Don't be afraid to ask for help, get to know you classmates and professors to help you when you miss a class, and don't be too hard on yourself. Set little goals for yourself each semester! Oh and don't forget to get your sleep. The height of my napping days was in university because I couldnt find the best balance between my social life and school work. Remember that you can't do it all, so learning to prioritize is a skill that will grow so much with this time!

Remember, you got this.