Freshman Time Capsule
May 7, 2024
Going into college, I was extremely intimidated by the stories I have heard, whether they be academic, or personal. I went in expecting the worst which is why I might have enjoyed my first year experience more than some. I thought I would spend every waking moment of my life toiling away at work into the early hours of the morning, but I realized that by setting a schedule for myself and being consistent, I had time to get my work done in a timely manner, I had time to hang out and talk with friends, I was able to work a job during school, and I even had time to work out and improve myself physically. Every day leaves me feeling fulfilled knowing that I was able to be productive and have fun while doing so.
My first and arguably most important piece of advice is to make friends. I had a bit of a headstart as I had participated in a summer program that allowed me to get to know other students in my major of engineering. Having a group of friends that have similar aspirations and are also going through the same struggles makes getting work done much more bearable. A little bit of friendly competition doesn’t hurt either. Seeing my peers make leaps and bounds in their respective fields only fueled and motivated me to do better as well. You can easily find friends through participating in student events as well as joining the multitude of clubs present on campus. The college experience is built on friendships, otherwise you are just here to work and get your degree. In addition, make sure you talk to and befriend faculty. Many professors are just looking for students to give research opportunities and recommendation letters. Now I’m not saying just to talk to professors for job references, but the best letters of recommendation come from a genuine connection.
The second piece of advice I would give is to find a hobby. For me that was lifting. After I eat dinner(by the way make sure you are eating three meals a day!), I go to the gym and work out. It is nice to have a hobby to look forward to doing at the end of the day, but try not to get too addicted to the point where it carries into your work time. I also like to wind down with some Netflix at the end of the day before going to bed, which brings me to my next piece of advice.
I cannot stress enough how important sleep is. I understand that it is tempting to push all assignments to one day where you stay up 24 hours to complete it all, but that can really hurt your productivity. First of all, doing assignments in one sitting shows its quality, and the day after is nothing short of a nightmare. Trying to focus on a lecture off 3 hours of sleep is near impossible for me. My goal is usually to be in bed at a time where I can get at least 7 hours of sleep. Spread your assignments out throughout the week, and yes, weekends as well. Having structure in your weeks is key to getting through your classes. As a mechanical engineer who is also working a part-time job, I feel like I can say I have more work than most, but it is not unmanageable. I can get my work done while still having free time and getting 7 hours of sleep.
Overall, balance is key to a fulfilling college experience. You will be challenged almost every day, and there will be times when you don’t see how you will move forward. I remember how I felt looking at my first general chemistry exam. However, if you are consistently practicing healthy habits, I can guarantee that you will do just fine, and you will surprise even yourself. Going into the field of engineering in a top 20 engineering program, I had a bit of imposter syndrome and did not know if I would even make it through the first year. Now, as the year comes to an end, I am pleasantly surprised with my current gpa and attribute all my success to having a structured week and having great peers around me. UMD is most definitely a work hard play hard school, so make sure you play as hard as you work.