3 Pieces of Advice That Have Stuck With Me Throughout College

1. Work Hard No Matter What 

College is a true training ground for life. For majority of students, this is their first time living on their own, away from their family and everything they know. This situation presents challenges to young adults,as they have no one making sure they are doing their homework and turning it in on time, getting enough food or rest and balancing school with their personal life. At times, students will struggle in any of these areas and when this happens, it is important to not give up and keep working hard to succeed academically or the area that needs work. The only way you fail is if you quit. Also, students are not in this alone. NC State has so many resources that will help make the most of their college experience as tutoring, career development, and counseling. 

2. Manage Your Time 

This is a useful skill for students to use in their daily lives because college students typically do not have the same schedule everyday like in high school so the time schedule for doing things like the amount of time to study/ do homework or getting food will fluctuate. Therefore, it is very important for students to have their days planned out ahead of time, even if it means writing everything using the google calendar. This strategy works for me as it ensures that I have enough time to complete my daily tasks like finishing up assignments and attending classes as well as keeping track of upcoming exams or projects.

3. Live In The Moment

Students get so caught up on our futures that we forget to enjoy the moments we have. This is something I still have trouble doing. The reason this is important advice is because at the end of the day students should enjoy the unique experience of college and all it has to offer outside of just the school portion. Encourage your students to take time to explore fun things like join clubs or intramural sports that they enjoy to take their mind off the rigors of their classes. In doing so, your student will have the opportunity to build communities and friendships with other like minded individuals that can last a lifetime. This is a great way to help students balance school with their personal lives while providing them with a support system during their time here at NC State. 

Dylan Gray