First Year Away From Home Brings Many Surprises

Being in an unfamiliar situation can be frightening and nerve-wracking to anyone. If you are a freshman, the whole college experience may seem overwhelming. Being in a new environment is challenging for everyone, and at one time, every student on the Plymouth State campus had the same anxious feelings. It is difficult taking on more responsibility now that most are on their own for the first time. Here are some suggestions to make your first semester run smoothly. Communicate openly and honestly with your roommate(s). Discuss how you feel about guests spending the night. Be respectful of others time schedules. This extends to not only your roommates, but also those on your floor, as well as above and below you. Clean up after yourself. Arrange a time when you can all sit down and study, without having to deal with distractions. If you have trouble studying in your room, there are many other locations around campus. Every residence hall has a study area in the lobby. The library is always a quiet atmosphere, and there are also independent study rooms where you can gather with a group. Other popular places to study are the Alumni Green, the lawns in front of Mary Lyon, Pemi, and Grafton. This year, there are more chairs and picnic tables located around campus, offering a chance to enjoy the warm weather before the season is over. Get organized. Invest in a student planner and use it every day. Write down everything, even if you think you will remember. Seeing your day laid out makes it less overwhelming. Look through your planner often, to get a sense of where you are in the semester. If a major project is due at the end of the semester, write early reminders so the deadline doesn’t sneak up on you. Keep your desk clean. Find a place for your belongings and always keep them there. Homesickness is another problem that students face. Extreme homesickness can affect concentration, as well as create moodiness and anxiety. Make your living space a close reminder of home. Cover your walls with pictures of your friends and family, posters from your own room, and your own art. The less visible wall space, the more at home you will feel. A good way to avoid feeling stressed is to exercise regularly. Herbal Healing recommends thirty minutes of activity three times per week. Not only does it relieve pressure, you get the benefits of losing weight or toning up while meeting other physically active people. There are two weight training rooms and a cardio theater in the HUB, and a larger gym, pool and track at the PE center. Make sure you know how to properly use any equipment before using it. Don’t overexert yourself. Those that exercise tend to eat healthier, especially on the same day of the exercise routine. For more information, visit www.herbalhealing.com.Eating healthy does not mean eating salad at every meal. The University cafeteria offers a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian selections. In order to lose weight in a healthy manner, it is important to eat a variety of foods each day. The most recently updated food pyramid recommends two to three servings of dairy products (women should have more to maintain good bone density), two to three servings of meat and fruit, and three to five servings of vegetables each day. Even with recent low carbohydrate diet crazes, such as the Adkins and South Beach diet, six to eleven servings of bread and pasta are still recommended each day.With loads of classes, group meeting, clubs, and social events, it is easy to be sleep deprived. Sleep is one of the most important factors in how successful you are in classes. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, adults should get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night in a quiet, cool and dark environment. Avoid using your bed for anything but sleeping. If the bed is used only for sleep, your mind will associate bed with rest, and will shut down faster when you are in it. College is an opportunity to meet many different types of people, and getting to know people with differing cultures is an important learning experience in itself. Always keep an open mind, especially when dealing with roommates. Different people have different backgrounds and morals. It is important to respect differing beliefs. Consider how your lifestyle may appear to others. Getting involved in campus activities gives you a chance to take a break from work, enjoy feelings of self worth, and looks great on resumes. Plymouth State offers a variety of student clubs and activities, ranging from student government to the gaming club. Check out bulletin boards in the Hub and in residence halls to find out when clubs are meeting. On nice days, there are always students playing volleyball, Frisbee, or lacrosse on the lawn of Mary Lyon. Getting involved on campus, maintaining an open mind, keeping an open circle of friends, and staying on top of your work are the best things you can do to make your first year at Plymouth State worthwhile. Remember that when things get overwhelming, there are always places to go for help. Professors, community advisors, residence directors, and friends are always there, and they can refer you to any kind of information you may need.