Hey guys, so this is my first time writing Fresh Perspectives, or for The Spartan in general. It’s about time we start to get settled in with college life, and all the good, the bad and the ugly that comes with it.

It’s much different than high school, huh?

Yeah, I think so too.

We are taking our first steps to adulthood and experiencing so many different changes with academics, social skills, mentality, and of course, our sanity of trying to balance everything we can possibly fit into our little 24-hour day. So, with that being said, let’s jump right in and talk about what being a freshman at Castleton University is really like.

Academics. Such a fun word right? I know how excited everyone is to think about the massive amounts of homework, 8 a.m. classes, studying for tests, and so much more.

Oh, that’s not fun?

My bad.

I for one can tell you how hard it is to stay on top of work. It’s only our second week and I’m already falling behind! But I have managed to find some studying and organization habits that work for me, such as keeping a planner and writing down all my assignments, having color-coated notebooks for each class, and taking a couple hours out of my evenings (which is incredibly challenging with a work schedule) to study or do homework. Try some of these out, you’d be surprised how well they might work for you.

And what about making new friends? Meeting new people? How do we manage to go about that, especially us commuters who don’t have a roommate? Must we stay alone forever?

Think twice my fellow freshies! I’ve come to learn that there are so many ways to meet new people on campus. Of course, you can just make friends with your classmates, but there’s other options like joining clubs and playing sports!

What’s that, you don’t have time?

I have a full class schedule, work two part-time jobs, am a volunteer firefighter, and now write for The Spartan newspaper. Trust me, you have time. Getting involved on campus is one of the best ways to introduce yourself to people, and start relationships that could last a lifetime! Didn’t your parents ever tell you they met their best friends in college?

Another very big factor to be mindful of, and not one to joke around with either (although I do love to make people laugh) is mental health. This is probably one of the most important things to stay on top of, and I can’t stress this enough. Being away from home with people you don’t know, plus having an entire workload can really stress a person out. This can cause severe anxiety and depression. I can vouch for this, I live with both.

Please, if you are ever struggling with symptoms for one of these illnesses, get help. Talk to a friend, a professor or go to the Wellness Center for counseling. You are important, and you shouldn’t have to feel this way over school, ever.

So yes, college is hard, probably down-right miserable sometimes. Suck it up buttercup, and go to class in your pajamas if you’re that lazy. I won’t judge. But there’s so many more pros than there are cons. We have a beautiful campus, wonderful people, and great professors who want to see us all succeed. This is our home now. This is who we are. Spartans.

Take care, I’ll talk to all my freshies soon!