Vlog: 5 quick tips for your first week of college

Hi guys! 

I know many of you are headed back to school this week - I wanted to share with you some quick tips to help you start your college experience (or get back into the groove if you are a returning student). 

Feel free to pass this along to any of your friends or family that are nervous about starting their college journey - and please invite them to join our community of awesome community college students and alumni!

I hope your year gets off to a great start! :) 

-Isa

PS - If you are sad about your summer vacation ending, feel free to cheer yourself up by enjoying a laugh at the expense of my YouTube screenshot for this video...;) 

Top 5 things to do before college classes start

In most states, college classes start up again next week, and to be honest - I'm jealous. I miss the anticipation and excitement of beginning a new semester.

If you're not feeling particularly enthused (or even if you are), below are the top 5 things to ensure you enjoy and are prepared for the beginning of what can be a truly exciting semester. The best news? It's up to you. 

1. Start setting your alarm for school time (don't hate me). When I have extended periods of time off I tend to stay up later and later, waking up closer and closer to the PM. And it's always those first few days of adjusting back to waking up early that hit the hardest. Starting to get up early a few days before you have to will ensure you are truly refreshed and ready for your first class. 

2. Get all of your books. I know this sounds obvious, but if you've already been to college you know there are often many people (maybe even you) who wait and get their books the same week of class. True story: I've never had to stand in a long line in the college bookstore - ever - because I always went weeks before class. The long lines and the stress are not a great way to start off the semester, and the truth is they can be avoided (with the exception of last minute course changes of course). As much as possible, grab your books early (and, huge bonus, professors will notice you're prepared). 

3. Set out an outfit. Okay so I know this can sound cheesy and it may not be for everyone, but I still got a thrill from laying my clothes out the night before class (and/or getting a new outfit when I could afford it). It was something I did in middle and high school before the first day, and it's a habit I carried over to college. Picking it out the night before saves time in the morning, and the care you put into your appearance on that first day really does send a message that you are excited to face the new semester.

4. Get a backpack/tote you love. Another thing I loved doing was getting a new tote for all my college stuff (doesn't have to be expensive, just something you really like). Since I was a commuter, being able to carry as many things as possible was key, since I couldn't drop stuff off in a dorm in between classes. I know it seems simple, but these small touches can make you feel surprisingly good. Building up that emotional momentum the week before will motivate you to have a successful semester. 

5. Choose an event to attend on the student life calendar. Many students start class and wait a while before getting involved in clubs and organizations. Starting out early enables you to get leadership positions (some come with scholarships) and start connecting with people early on. The earlier you get involved the more engaged you will feel in your day-to-day college life. So after you finish reading this blog, go to your college's website and look for the events calendar. Choose at least one event to attend the first week or two of classes (I highly recommend any sort of Club Recruitment event). And then - show up. 

Figuring out what it takes to get you excited about school is more important to your grades, and even financial success, than you may realize. Your level of emotional engagement affects your success. So figure out what gets you excited and go for it! Start school off with a positive and prepared attitude, and you might just be amazed at the things you make happen this semester.  

Ok...Now What?

So, many of you have started back on campus by now.  And hopefully, most of you have been trying my tips for a first week on campus.

But let’s get real.  Now what?

Many of you asked yourselves that this afternoon – some of you did and might have not even known it.  But the odds are, at the end of the day, on the drive, walk, bike, or bus ride home, you started to think about how your first day back went.  You probably thought about all of the work you are going to do, and for many of you, how you are going to balance that class with this class and all of those classes with your work schedule. 

Well, take a deep breath.  Inhale. Exhale. And now reflect.

You owe yourself these three questions:

1.     Did I come home today feeling great?  If you did, awesome! Keep up that momentum, don’t let it slip away and treat every day like this one.  If you didn’t, evaluate the “why not” question. Do you need to adjust your schedule? If so, get it done now, before you get too deep in the semester and a change throws you off. 

2.     Who did I talk to today? If the answer was your peers and your professors, great work! If it wasn’t, which ones did you talk to? Come up with a plan for tomorrow to make sure you introduce yourself to valuable people around you, for your personal life, and for your academic life. College is more fun when you connect!

3.     What’s the game plan? Let’s figure out your schedule now before you add anything else to the mix. When am I going to study for class A? What week will I need to take off this day from work to finish the essay for Class B? Read those syllabus handouts that your professors gave you this morning. They can be flotation devices for your mental health in stressful situations. 

I hope everyone’s first days back are going great.  I am so grateful to have you all as awesome readers – and you deserve awesome semester – make it happen!

PS. I tweeted this today (let's follow each other! www.twitter.com/isaadney) - I like to think of Monday as the first chapter in a good book. 

I hope yours is a great read!

Jump In: The Impact of Your First Week

For many college students today marks the first week of classes. And for some, it’s time to dust off the backpack and the brain and begin a new year.

It’s easy to start by just dipping your toes in – not getting enough sleep the night before, zoning out as the professor reviews the syllabus, and kind of just skimming by that first week as a slow acclimation.

But the truth is – the way you start your first week of class will determine your grade at the end of the semester.

Have you ever swam in an ice cold spring or river? One time I went white-water rafting in Tennessee and the 50-degree water felt like daggers. Slowly wading from the shallow water to the deep to climb into the raft was painful. And getting splashed by annoying teenage boys was pure torture.

Jumping in the river from a rope swing, however, was really fun. I didn’t have as much time to dwell on the icy shock. Once I jumped in I began to have a great time.

College is very much like that river. Getting back into the routine of class, studying, and exams can be daunting. But it is not something to ease into, to expect to just happen.

You have to jump right in.  Do a swan dive, a cannon ball, a belly flop, or whatever you want, just go full force and don’t wait for the slow descent into stress or the shocking splash of an exam.

So how do you jump in?

You remember that this first week will determine your grade. You go in with vigor, with enthusiasm, and with the belief that you are successful and that you are going to get straight A’s.

You read the syllabus thoroughly. You mark in your planner when assignments and tests are going to be due. You set phone/calendar alarms (my fav is google calendar) to remind you of important due dates. You sit in the front of the class. You make friends in the first week.

You organize study groups. You scan the entire textbook. You get ahead on the first assignment.

You get to know the professor. You organize your binders, folders, backpack and make sure you have everything you need. You go to a club meeting, SGA, and/or a campus event. You wear nice outfits (e.g. not pajamas).

You go to the library.

Jump in.

College is a lot of work. But it is work that will pay off. And like jumping into that river – it can actually be a lot of fun. But what isn’t fun is being stressed and overwhelmed, being lonely, or feeling like you’re just not smart enough to get the grades you want.

The truth is you are smart enough. You control your grades.  And the way you approach this first week can prevent all of the stressors that often overwhelm college students as the semester progresses.

No matter what barriers you may face in pursuing your education, know and feel confident that you control your attitude and the effort you put forth.

And the perseverance and confidence you derive from jumping in will stay with you long after you receive your diploma.

In many ways I wish I was you right now. There was nothing I loved more than the first days of classes. Embrace them. Appreciate them. And remember that they can help you reach the goals you have for your life.

Success does not come to those who timidly, fearfully, or apathetically wade in the shallow waters. It comes to those who jump in with everything they've got. And if you’re the kind of person who reads a blog like this to the end, then I know you’re a jumper.

Thank you for reading and have an amazing first week :)

To read more about Isa's personal story & how you can build relationships to: make positive friends, be more successful in academics and work, find the right people to connect with, and access the hidden job market, grab a FREE e-copy of the first chapter of Community College Success: How to Finish with Friends, Scholarships, Internships, and the Career of Your Dreams! Claim your free copy on the Facebook page!