Contrary to the usual assumption, I did not attend school for the full academic year last year. I was one of those people who started in the spring. From there, I took my classes, had my struggles and found a job at The Lion’s Roar. Technically, I’m still a freshman.

I spent my first and only semester of the 2016-17 academic year about as typically as one can expect.

That said, I’m excited to return and get back into the fold.

To those of you incoming for the first time this year, heed my advice: stay on top of those deadlines. You have no idea how important they are. 

Professors may extend a hand to help you and remind you, but at the end of the day, it is your job to get your work done. I admit I didn’t do too well on that front last semester, but I’m taking the “L” and using it to my advantage to further my college career and advance my work ethic.

Another tip for those incoming freshmen this year: try to find yourself a couple of friends. 

Do not skimp out on those friend circles because they can make or break your first few semesters if you let them. I was lucky enough to find friends at the job I landed here after losing some friends I started with. On top of that, I had less time to find new people to talk to than most students due to my starting in January. Those friends helped me out in ways they will probably never know. They know who they are.

That’s one of the things I missed most about college through the summer. I missed my friends that I had made. I didn’t get to make it back to Hammond all summer, so I never got to see them.

I have to admit I also missed the autonomy provided by living in a dorm. Choosing when to eat, wash clothes, clean, relax and sleep had a very specific appeal to me. While I love the dependability from living with Mom and Dad, there’s nothing quite like living on your own or with a roommate who is hardly ever home. 

I’ll go ahead and reiterate for the sake of its importance how you should stay on top of your deadlines. It’s extremely important. I can’t stress that enough. Keep those deadlines in mind and make time for your work. Life will be hard if you don’t, but don’t freeze up in fear from that. Remember, this is college, and it’s supposed to be a great time. It’s only a bad time if you let it, so let’s have a great year, yeah?