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Caitlin Anh Vaughan

DerOhanessian
ENG115 M/W 11-12:15
How to Survive Freshman Year
The transition from high school to college is said to be the most challenging period in a
young students life. First-years are under an unbelievable pressure not only to succeed, but
to excel in college. They walk into a university already feeling guilty that they dont know
what they want to major in, or what their career path is going to be (LaLonde 5). Many

people head to college unprepared and unsure of what to expect from the university life. There
are so many stressors that students tend to overlook when they are too excited to realize the
responsibilities they will soon have to take on. Not only are students expected to learn at a higher
level, they must also find ways to balance new financial responsibilities, relationships with
family members and friends, employment, and the increase of schoolwork. Some things falling
under these categories could be considered distractions and should be limited, but it is ultimately
up to each individual to know what is necessary to find success. Balance is key when
transitioning into a new academic setting and priorities must be set in advance in order to reach
goals that allow one to achieve the greatest level of individual success.
Fiscal responsibility and employment while attending a university seems to be some of
the most difficult aspects of the transition period between high school and college. According to
Kim Clarks article Students Make Costly Mistakes with Financial Aid, A new study
detailing students' financial blunders raises concerns that many undergraduates are jeopardizing
their academic success because they haven't first learned how to manage money (2). Many
students enter their first year of college not knowing how to manage money well and trying to
find ways to make more money that could interfere with their dedication to schoolwork. Susan

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Eitel, a lecturer in family sciences at Texas Woman's University, says most studentsknew they
were making unwise and wasteful financial decisions that were harming their educations, but
they still did not want to bother learning about finances (Clark 3). Most of the time, students
either do not have the time or the motivation to learn what they should about how to properly
handle their finances or save money for the future. In her study, Eitel also found that students
tend to make more irresponsible decisions in relation to making or spending money, such as
working more hours that would cut into study time, borrowing money that they will not have the
means to pay back, or even dropping out of school because the financial worries are too difficult
to control (Clark 6). The importance of the ability to balance multiple stressors is explicitly
apparent regarding the college students increasing financial responsibilities. Clark also points
out that because they felt so busy balancing work, family, and school, most students felt they
had no time to understand, let alone challenge, aid awards (9). Finding ways to make time for
work that does not interfere with a study schedule and going out of your way to learn how to take
care of financial responsibilities is extremely relevant in a society where young university
students are expected to excel in everything they do. Although it is unrealistic to have these
expectations of young adults, it will ultimately benefit each individual student because they were
able to hone the ability to balance their lifestyle early on. Some students are able to acquire great
skills at maintaining fiscal responsibility, but this sometimes comes at the cost of being unable to
sustain healthy relationships.
Relationships, whether they are familial or involve a significant other, are always
challenging no matter what phase or transition a person is going through in life. They require
attention and work all the time because relationships always have room for improvement. Eric
Hoover explains that sometimes, life on a campus, like anywhere else, will be tough,

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challenging, and downright unpleasant (4). In this short blog post, Hoover spells out that
college may not be all it is cracked up to be in the movies and television; and that this fact should
not hinder anyones college experience or relationships with others. He titles this blog post
Loneliness and the College Oasis, which is very fitting because college can be lonely.
Relationships with family members, friends and lovers are vital to finding the ability to balance
everything in life. Rebecca Elliot, a Ph.D. student of sociology, advises students to let go of the
relationships involving significant others, even if it is only for a little while, in order to bring
new people and priorities into your separate lives (6). Although it may seem to add more chaos
than it relieves at times, relationships usually benefit young students by teaching them to
communicate with others and forge connections that will help them grow and learn how to
manage other responsibilities. While it is easier to form strong bonds and relationships in high
school, it becomes increasingly difficult to undergo the process of making new friends in college,
as there is a rise in the level and amount of schoolwork and studying that students must take on.
The intellectual level of schoolwork and studying increase exponentially for students who
did not take all AP courses in high school. Test anxiety and other stressors factor into a students
ability to achieve their depiction of success. Generally, we all experience some level of
nervousness or tension before tests or other important events in our lives. A little nervousness
can actually help motivate us (Test Anxiety 1). The idea that some nervousness can be
motivational supports the fact that, even if a student is able to achieve balance, it is okay to feel
unsure every once in a while. Balance does not mean you have achieved perfection, but rather
that you know what you are capable of and how you can cope with everyday stressors. In a
society that expects students to do more than succeed, Carol S. Dweck notices that We seem to
worship talent and we often portray it as a gift... (5). This societal imposition causes many

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students to feel lacking or incompetent, and maybe even unwilling to learn. The emphasis on the
importance of talent should not hinder a students search for balance between their studies and
personal lives. Anne Lamott, an author and reviewer for food and books, shares her wisdom in
an excerpt titled Shitty First Drafts and states that Almost all good writing begins with
terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere (96). This quote is applicable to so many
other circumstances, especially when Lamott delves into the idea that you must trust the writing
process in order to yield the best results. Steve Jobs really captures the importance of this process
in his 2005 Stanford Commencement Address by explaining that You can't connect the dots
looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the
dots will somehow connect in your future. Prospective college students should trust that they
will eventually find the right path to follow, even if they cannot figure everything out at once.
Finding balance also requires a process that could take years to grasp; but trusting your ability to
complete schoolwork or study enough that you feel well equipped for an upcoming exam will
come with experience. The learning process may not come as easily to one student as it does for
another, but all students struggle with the balancing act that corresponds with university life.
True balance can only be achieved when an individual experiences the benefits of Me
Time every now and then. Willie X. Lin, a student at Washington University in St. Louis,
advises students to Remember to take some time away from campus from the demands of
schoolwork and the trappings of the college social lifecollege should be a part of, but not
the entire scope of, your existence for the next few years (2). It is obviously very important
to integrate yourself into the campus community, but it is also essential to spend time away
from all the fuss of campus life every once in a while. This is all a part of the balancing act
that is necessary to really find out what you want out of your education and your life.
Allowing for some time to learn about your needs and wants and setting time aside to

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address these aspects of yourself will help jumpstart the process of finding balance. The
prospect of having Me Time is the most vital aspect of achieving the proper balance to suit
your lifestyle. Not only does this time allow for self-reflection, but it also provides another
valuable skill in the area of time management. Time management seems to be one of the
overlooked abilities among college students as procrastination and postponement tend to be
more popular mindsets. Giving yourself Me Time does not necessarily constitute taking
valuable time away from your studies, but rather giving yourself the time to reflect on how
you can better manage your life, your time, and your happiness.
Often times, college students find themselves juggling multiple different
responsibilities that it becomes overwhelming, tedious, and stressful to cope with everything
at once. Time management is one of the greatest skills that a student can possess when
entering college. This and the right mindset will greatly assist students who require the
ability to find balance during one of the most stressful transitions in a young adults life.
Work and financial responsibilities, relationships, and school work are all very difficult to
balance, especially when society sets the expectations for young people to not only succeed,
but to excel in everything they do. Balance is extremely vital for college students, as finding
what does and does not work for you early on can benefit the process of creating a better,
happier life.