Name, Campus Carrier Editor-in-Chief

Your freshman year at Berry will be a time of constant change, adjustment and, unfortunately, stress. You have likely heard this several times over the past week, but it’s true – beginning college is a major milestone.

Like most freshmen, I struggled to adjust to being away from home and making new friends. I ended up focusing most of my energy on academics. My sophomore year I joined the Carrier staff, which gave me more responsibilities to juggle. Since then, I have struggled to find a balance between work, academics and relationships with friends and family.

We all came to Berry because we wanted to get a degree in the field of our choice. For many of us, Berry’s extensive student work program was a factor in our college decision. However, while we came here to prepare for our future careers, we shouldn’t be miserable during our four years in college.

There will certainly be days where you will feel so overwhelmed you don’t even have time to eat dinner or get a decent amount of sleep. For many of us, most days feel like that. But you should always try to find some time to stay in touch with the people who will help make your college experience a positive one. This might mean calling home while walking to a meeting or class or choosing to go to the library when you meet up with friends. 

Make friends with your coworkers and classmates. I have met several of my best friends through working at the Carrier and getting to know my classmates, especially in the courses in my major. Fortunately, Berry’s smaller class sizes and variety of job opportunities makes it a little easier to connect with your peers.

Another way to help reduce stress is to fully invest yourself in a few activities rather than trying to participate in everything. Choose one or two organizations or on-campus roles you are passionate about, and aim for a leadership position. The other students in those groups will be grateful that you have the time and energy to be an active contributor, and you will feel less overwhelmed trying to keep track of meetings and obligations.

Your BCC 100 class is a great starting point. Many of the students you meet there will be your classmates for the next four years, and your first-year mentor can give you advice about how to adjust to the stress of college. They dealt with the same issues not that long ago.

If you are struggling to understand your coursework, don’t be afraid to visit your professors during their office hours. You won’t be bothering them – most professors like speaking with students who care about what they are learning. Also, hold on to the syllabus and write important dates down in your planner. If you know a deadline is approaching, you won’t be caught off guard the night before something is due.

Berry is very academically demanding, and succeeding in the classroom should be a priority. However, it is crucial to remember that college can be enjoyable despite the stress.