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Getting off the struggle bus

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For the past few months, much of what you’ve heard from Peer Leaders is GET INVOLVED. TIME MANAGEMENT. CAMPUS RESOURCES. To be honest, even Peer Leaders need to take the time to get our lives on campus right, because trust me when I tell you that we’re nowhere NEAR perfect. I’ve had the pleasure of studying architecture during my time here at Ohio State. When you hear about architecture you probably think about 1 of 2 things:

  1. How time intensive it is. “Don’t you, like, live in Knowlton? It’s literally the number one question I get when I mention what I’m majoring in, and with good reason. Having a 4.5 hour studio class three times a week will do that to you. I LOVE what I do though, and I couldn’t be happier with it.
  2. Ted Mosby from How I Met Your Mother. Enough said.

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Like many of you, classes take up a good chunk of my time. Bring in work at First Year Experience and my involvement with my church on campus and I’ve got little to no time to really do anything else! When things are going right, having such a busy schedule works out great for me as I’m at my best when I’m really productive. It’s when tough times outside of school and work come up like they have in recent weeks that it feels like the wheels could easily fly off of the proverbial wagon that is my life. There’s a fine line between being busy and chaotic, so when things aren’t going my way, life definitely moves closer to that side of the spectrum, especially without people who can share in your experiences. I’m really fortunate to have such a strong support system, but even if that isn’t there for you I’m here to share a few things that have really helped me to keep on keeping on when times get rough.

Self reflection

I tend to find it much easier to put off problems until they disappear. Recently though, I’ve gained such an appreciation for self-reflection when it comes to dealing with things going on in my life. I found it super helpful just listening to my favorite songs whenever I could, mostly to get my mind off of things, but also to put me in a frame of mind to be able to figure out what was going on in my life. Whether it’s journaling or just getting some alone time, self-reflection is a really great way to be able to not only face these matters head on, but also to begin thinking about ways to resolve or move on from them.

Talk about it!

After taking the time to sort my thoughts, getting the opportunity to talk with someone about what’s going on in my life was the most therapeutic thing that I ended up doing to help me move forward. One of the other Peer Leaders, Caitlin, was kind enough to lend a listening ear for me. Lots of us talk with our friends about things going on in life to hopefully gain some encouragement or insight of what to do, but in all honesty, the most helpful part was just the fact that she was there for me. Find that listening ear; whether it’s your roommate, RA, classmate, or whomever, speaking your mind to someone is so important.

(Some of you may not have anyone that you’re quite comfortable doing that with here on campus, so I’d encourage you to reach out to a Peer Leader, yours or otherwise. We’re all about helping you, and we’d be more than happy to be that listening ear for you! My email is included below, and I’d be more than happy to either be that person for you or connect you with another Peer Leader on staff if you’d like!)

Push through

The most important part about the process of getting through a rough patch is just that, getting through the rough patch. For me, if it wasn’t for the courage to face those issues head on, and the support of those around me, there’s a good possibility that I’d be stuck in the negative frame of mind that I was in, and I would’ve fallen so far behind in school and at work that it would’ve been an uphill battle from there on out. Of course, all of my life’s problems aren’t resolved as of today, but knowing that I’m more than capable of getting through some of the most difficult few weeks that I’ve been through (so far) is something that I’ll be able to take with me for the rest of my life.

Contact Jon at decipeda.1s@osu.edu.

The Four Things I Didn’t See Coming During My First Year

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Before beginning my first year at Ohio State, I was aware of many new changes: more responsibilities, a new city, a whole new living environment, larger classes and, of course, independence. However, there were many things that I did not anticipate.

Now a ripened old senior, I hope to share a few tidbits of advice with the newest Buckeyes. I have included four problems you may not expect to run into your first year and my tips for finding a solution.

Problem: Transportation without your own car

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Perhaps Stow, Ohio isn’t bursting with things to do but my chipped and dented Honda Accord got me where I was going. For those of you who used to drive around town, dancing from your seat and blasting music from your beloved high school vehicle, be ready to say goodbye to your wheels (unless you are a lucky commuter) and say hello to the three Cs of college transportation.

Solution:

COTA: Bus transportation to the Columbus area–take the #2 to travel down High Street!

CABS: Your bus system to get you around campus–use the mobile app, OSU BUS, to find nearby routes

CARPOOLING: Need to go home for a long weekend? At such a large school chances are someone in your residence hall is from the same area or state as you, so make friends and save your parents some driving!

Problem: Balancing the little things

Often the simple things–the ones you overlook–are the most difficult to balance. Get ready for the BIG DADDY of the little things: TIME MANAGEMENT.

With new opportunities every day, so many fun things to do, and great people to meet, you may find that it is hard to follow a regular schedule. My recommendation? Take time to make trips to your favorite dining hall with friends, go for walks on the Oval, join a club or attend your campus events; however, find balance between studying, socializing and SLEEPING (in class is not the solution).

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True story: By not taking time for our health, my roommates became susceptible to illnesses and my brief bout with mono from high school came back full force to strike even harder in college! Taking time to rest could have saved me from falling asleep on my calculus final!

Solution:

Create a healthy schedule and set aside a reasonable amount of time every night to sleep. Make this a priority! If you risk starting your homework at midnight, be prepared for the exhaustion to take a toll on your body, immune system and your effectiveness in school.

Problem: Living with roommates “in sickness and in health”

One of the biggest adjustments I had to make in college was when I became ill and had to make an appointment to the doctor for the first time by myself. I was sick, lonely and absolutely TERRIFIED.

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Preventative Solutions:

  1. Be prepared for small living quarters! The common cold can spread very quickly if you aren’t diligently washing your hands and avoiding shared drinks and food.
  2. Exercise, get plenty of sleep, and eat balanced and nutritious meals.
  3. Hand sanitizer.

Proactive Solution:

Don’t be afraid to make an appointment!

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When I called ahead and made an appointment at the Wilce Student Health Center, I was warmly welcomed by the ladies at the front desk; they called me “baby” and I never wanted to leave (I may form attachments easily). I met with a wonderful doctor, received my diagnosis and was soon on my way. If you need a prescription, you can even pay at the full-service pharmacy using your BuckID cash!

Problem: Schoolwork overload

One thing that I was totally unprepared for was the amount of work I would be faced with in college.

In college, your schoolwork becomes your full-time job. Although you may only be in class for about 15 hours per week, the amount of material and homework you are expected to cover tends to amount to at least 40 hours per week. That means an average amount of 5-8 hours of additional studying every night.

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How can you succeed?

Solution:

1. BE PREPARED, BUDGET YOUR TIME: Know what is expected of you and keep up with your assignments! Make schoolwork a priority during the day and between classes so that you have more time to relax during the weekend.

2. FOLLOW THE SYLLABUS: Unlike high school where you might have had a rough outline for what you will learn during the year, college professors tend to follow the assignments and readings on the syllabus PRECISELY. You will not be reminded of the work you are expected to be completing; instead, you’ll use your syllabus to track those deadlines. You will be expected to come to lectures prepared, meaning half of the learning process is expected to take place during your own time.

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3. SEEK OUT RESOURCES: Struggle with learning things from simply reading or by yourself? Do not fear! At a large school, there are ENDLESS opportunities for you to get help. However, it falls on your shoulders to seek them out and actually show up.

  • Group study sessions: learn from your peers!
  • Office hours: weekly meeting times set aside by your professors to speak directly with them!
  • Free tutoring: in mathematics, chemistry, writing, etc. and in your own residence halls!

I hope you are as eager to begin your journey as I was and that these solutions lead to a successful first year!

With Buckeye Love,

Regina