How's school going? Now that your first week is up, have you run into anything unexpected? Since you've had time to settle in, here's a few things you should be thinking of.
1. Your eating habits
Now that you're actually in the middle of school, how have you been eating? Your health and your money are affected by the answer. Are you buying all your food at school? It's probably convenient, especially if you have late classes, but it'll cost you more than buying groceries and bringing your meals, plus premade food is always less healthy than what you make yourself. Making food yourself is a good step to saving money, and cooking is an excellent skill to have (and one you can make into a career, thanks to our Culinary Arts programs).
2. Your sleep schedule
How much sleep have you been getting? It's a college thing to joke, or even brag about not getting sleep, but it can actually be very bad for you. Symptoms of a lack of sleep include poor memory and a lack of focus, which is a big problem when those are two things you need to do in school. If you're in college, you want to try and get 7-9 hours of sleep.
3. Your health in general
How are you feeling? Really, your sleep and your diet are just two parts of a larger equation: Making sure you're staying healthy. If your body and mind aren't healthy, then you won't do as well as school. Diet and sleep are a part of it, but so is exercise, which is why we give all students free access to our gym and athletic facilities, even if you just want to spend a few minutes on the treadmill. On a similar note, if you're feeling stressed, anxious, or just want someone to talk to, our Counselling Centre is here to help.
4. How much money you're spending
How's your financials looking? Now that you're in the middle of school, how much money are you actually spending? And how much is coming in? If you're working, pay attention to what you're getting paid. The college's Financial Services department can help with this part, offering both resources and counselling.
5. If you like your program
How do you feel about your program now that you're in the thick of it? It's normal to have doubts and fears, but you also need to seriously analyze whether the program seems like it's going to give you what you need. Maybe your expectations for what you're learning or the career you're getting into doesn't quite match how it's actually turning out. Don't drop out over it, but don't feel obligated to stick it out if you're unhappy either. You could always switch programs, and even use what you've already learned to earn prior credit. Either way, the Counselling Centre can help you make the right choice.
6. What you're doing to nurture your career
While I wouldn't stress about it, it's definitely something you should look into as early as possible. So, what does nurturing your career look like? It means putting together a proper resume (which you can do with help from our Career Services department). It also means cleaning up your "digital footprint," in the form of setting up a LinkedIn profile, making your social media appropriate and professional (no party pictures!) and making a personal website or online portfolio.
By Anthony Geremia