Tips to Start Strong

For every class, the teacher will hand out a syllabus or provide an online syllabus, which will tell students about the professor, what to expect for the semester and the basic rundown of assignments. Sometimes, professors give quizzes on the syllabus to make sure the student is paying attention, but even if they don’t, reading the syllabus is a good idea. It not only shows the professor you’re dedicated and prepared, but it truly helps you get a better understanding of the class as a whole.

This is important for all stages of life but especially when starting a new school year. It’s important to set goals in every aspect of your life: health goals, academic goals, fun goals, etc. Setting goals can also help you to become more productive. For example, you can set short term goals like reading one book a month for fun and studying for at least an hour every day, or you can set long term goals, like finishing the semester with a 3.5 GPA or selecting a minor. Goals are an important part of being productive, so setting goals off the bat is the way to start off strong.

Coming off summer break, your routine can be thrown off. That’s why, starting right away, it’s important to establish a routine — something as simple as when you go to the dining hall, go out with friends, study or head to class. Knowing a routine can significantly decrease stress and provide an environment where you can thrive as a student and a person. Creating a routine quickly will also help you feel more adjusted when moving back into college, and it’s a good skill to have for the rest of your life.

No matter what year you are at OU, it’s time to get involved. Joining sports teams, sorority and fraternity life, clubs or publications can be a great way to meet new people and get involved on campus. Even getting a job or volunteering can be great ways to be more involved and meet new people. It’s important anywhere you go to feel like you’re a part of the campus, so starting the year off by joining new things or looking for new jobs can be a great way to start strong, and it can become an essential part of your routine.

OK, it’s true everyone says this is an important thing to do, but it’s reality. Honestly, it can create such a great relationship if you start off the class by introducing yourself to the professor. It can help you out grade-wise, and comfortability-wise when it comes to asking questions and keeping up when you’re confused. Especially when classes are so big and it can be hard to keep track of all of the students, having a one-on-one relationship with your teacher can be a great way to be successful, and that starts with an introduction.

Everyone preaches self-care, but it’s truly so important. There are so many times when people put self-care on the backburner when it should be right up on top of the list. Self-care isn’t just about relaxing to watch a movie or having some alone time (which are both valid methods of self-care), but it’s also about getting good amounts of sleep, regularly feeding yourself and taking care of your hygiene. The start of the year can be overwhelming, so establishing some good methods of self-care off the bat is probably the most important thing you can do.