Summer B is upon us. By now, you’re either a pro at this whole college game or you’re a newbie who decided to embrace this new journey a bit earlier than most.
Either way, good for you.
Now is the time to settle into your new digs, scramble for last-minute schedule changes or textbooks and maybe get to know this new city you’re in.
As you bask in your newfound freedom though, let us let you in on a little secret — despite what the media have shown you, and aside from what you might witness in your new dorm, college is not a constant party.
At least, it shouldn’t be.
If you’re just starting college and have only been out of high school for a month or so, the temptation is going to be killer.
We all start college at the most tempting part of our lives. It’s almost cruel.
You’re going to be surrounded by alcohol, new places to spend your money at, and all the time in the world will be available to you as go out and explore your new territory.
Who’s to stop you? Not your parents, that’s for sure.
By all means, having fun at this time in your life is important.
This is where you’re going to find the friends who will be around the rest of your life.
This is where you’re going to build those memories that are going to make college, well, memorable.
Heck, most of what you remember about college is probably going to be what happened outside the classroom.
At the end of the day, though, the most important aspect of college is not to lose the opportunity that is in front of you.
Your fate has led you to what some people can only dream of. To throw away a college education in the name of a good time, or “one crazy night,” is not only dumb, but it will also cost you way more than what you paid for tuition.
We want you to make your freshman year memorable, but for the right reasons. Along with building memories, college is where you will learn the beauty of balancing work and play.
It wouldn’t behoove you to let your GPA slip now.
Getting good grades early on will give you some wiggle room for the future, you know, when your classes get really difficult and you’re trying to graduate.
Summer term tends to be more relaxed, especially if you’re not full-time, so use that to your advantage. Grade forgiveness only works twice.
Trust us when we say you want to hold on to those for dear life.
Using this short summer term to go crazy, sneak into clubs, and get black-out drunk, is no way to start your college career.
Instead, have some fun, but make an honest effort to be successful this term.
Setting goals now and working toward them may even give you more time to relax at the end of the semester when everyone else is popping NoDoz and cramming textbooks into their heads.
In front of you is a clean slate.
You have the chance to re-create yourself or better the person you were coming into college.
Change your hair, change your make-up, change your attitude; nobody will even notice, and there’s something exciting about that.
Join clubs or organizations on campus.
No doubt there will be one to suit your interests.
From Japanese fencing to environmental clubs, UCF has it all.
Take some time to do something related to your major, or, if you have yet to choose a major, research the programs and see what catches your eye.
College is the chance of a lifetime; use it wisely.