If you’re a high school senior wondering (and possibly stressing) about that first year of college that’s rapidly approaching, then keep reading! Here you’ll discover some sound advice to use during your first year of college and beyond.
This is the second part of my two part series so be sure to read Part 1 first to catch up on some great advice from students attending the University of Portland, Creighton University, and the University of Hawai’i at Manoa.
In the first part, Leianna gave advice on forging new social connections, Kayce shared how she uses special tools to time-block, Wei-Ting gave perspective on priorities, Lilia talked about embracing community and defining identity, and Jaimee wisely spoke about seeking balance to avoid burnout.
In this second part there's some great advice for staying organized, recharging your mental battery, and staying in touch with loved ones. Each of these bright and wonderful college students were once high school seniors who I was honored to photograph for their senior portraits.
"If you're feeling sad or overwhelmed, ensure you make time for activities you enjoy! (ex. Yoga, Reading your favorite book, Watching comfort shows on Netflix). There will be lots of new opportunities as well, but you can also return to pastimes you've had in the past that help you relax.
Also, try to organize your assignments at the beginning of the semester! I initially found it difficult to develop a new organization system, but it is definitely helpful to read through the class syllabuses and write down assignments and test deadlines ahead of time. I've also heard that many universities use Canvas as their student portal, and there are helpful extensions like 'Tasks for Canvas' and 'BetterCanvas' that allow you to input and view all of your assignment deadlines together. Good luck!"
~Skylar, Freshman at Stanford University
“My advice for someone who is heading off to college and wants to survive college is not to stress yourself because in most courses, you have to study by yourself, and don't take too many credits in one semester. Review the course material after class, be wise with time management, and don't wait until the last minute to review all the concepts.”
~Wei-Ling, Sophomore at University of Hawai'i at Manoa
“I struggle a lot with time management and procrastination, so I think my best advice would be to make strong habits that set you up for success. I.e. blocking out time to study, time to exercise and time to relax because once you move away from family there’s no one there to remind you to stay on track.”
~Elsie, Freshman at Chaminade University
“The best advice I’d give an incoming college student is to enjoy the experiences and call your loved ones. College is one of the first times where you learn to be more independent and accountable for yourself, which...can be overwhelming [but] also really exciting. Try to step out of your comfort zone at least for the first few weeks and allow yourself to enjoy the new experiences. Second, don’t be afraid to reach out to your loved ones. Whether I need advice or just want to catch up, calling a loved one helps to calm down anxious feelings and helps to stay in touch. I’m sure your loved ones at home appreciate the call or text too.”
~Gigi, Freshman at Gonzaga University
The main takeaways? (1) Focus on time management. (2) Get involved in clubs or activities so that you can try new things and meet new people. (3) Stay connected with family, friends, and school resources. There will be moments of loneliness, feeling homesick, and being overwhelmed by academics, but reaching out to family and/or friends for support and taking advantage of student services at your college or university will make the transition just a little easier.
Ora's Senior Year Photo
One quick piece of advice that I can offer from my own personal college experience looking back on my time at Seattle University: follow your instincts and pay attention to what lights you up. For instance, if you begin your college journey as “undecided” and you take a class that you absolutely love, talk to your advisor about a related field of study and consider taking more of those classes. While there will always be a class or two that you don’t like, there will be others that you love and those are the classes that will fuel your passion for learning and provide the motivation for you to achieve your educational goals.
So there you have it! Hopefully this advice for how to thrive in college will encourage you to feel empowered to get out there, meet new people, try new things, cultivate excellent time management skills and study habits, and savor all the little moments along the way.
Thank you to Jaimee, Skylar, Elsie, Wei-Ling, and Gigi for being so kind and taking the time and energy to provide thoughtful, heartfelt advice for high school seniors everywhere!
Interested in your own senior photo session designed to celebrate you and this amazing time in your life? Juniors, this is for you too! To get the conversation started you can use the book a session form to inquire about dates and availability.
