Succes in College

Making the transition from high school to college, has to be one of the hardest things everyone must go through. Everyone must find their own way to successfully navigate through the whole college experience. It'll take a while to adjust but once they're stable, they're in for a smooth ride.

"Two of the most often cited differences between high school and college are increased independence and greater responsibility." (Barefoot 21) Time is the biggest factor when it comes to dealing with the responsibilities and independence. We must each set our own goals to fulfill those certain responsibilities. In order to accomplish the goals, we must learn how to manage out time effectively so that we won't fall behind. "Time management is a lifelong skill" (Barefoot 36) so the sooner we get it down, the better off we are; now and in the future. Setting our priorities is a great way to start. Making a list of all the tasks we have to do will help us see it visually and it'll feel great once we get to scratch them off the list, one by one. Keeping a planner will be an easy way to stay organized. Once we see a set schedule of what is due and when it's due, we'll be motivated to finish them by the due dates. The most difficult things to do will be to avoid distractions and to not procrastinate. "Being a good student does not necessarily mean studying day and night and doing little else," (Barefoot 32) but we must avoid the distractions during our study time. Being able to separate play and work should be the number one priority. Number two should be finding a learning style that is best for you.

We know all people are different, meaning we're unique in our own way. "People also lean differently" and "experts agree that there is no one best way to learn." (Barefoot 44) There are various learning styles, which depend on the person's attitude and personality. For example, field-independent learners tend to require little interaction with instructors or students and prefer working with science or mathematics. On the other hand, field-depending learners tend to learn more effectively in a classroom where there is frequent interaction with others. Another huge factor is if the person is an extravert or an introvert. Extraverts are outgoing, gregarious and talkative, unlike introverts who are refreshed by quiet and privacy." (Barefoot 48) No matter what type of style helps best, taking good notes is the key to success. Reading an studying can be tedious but five minute breaks give the brain a very well deserved energy boost. Staying on top of everything and being sane is important because it will keep the stress away.

"When you are stressed, your body undergoes physiological, behavioral and emotional changes." (Barefoot 316) Stress takes a toll on your health, which is why we should understand the topic of wellness. "Wellness means making healthy choices and achieving balance. It includes reducing stress and keeping fit. Keeping fit involves a healthy diet and an effective workout plan. Healthy dieting is necessary, specially when caffeine is a part of it. Caffeine increases alertness and reduces feelings of fatigue almost instantly, but it eventually gets the person more tired. It also causes nervousness, headaches, irritability and insomnia, if consumed in large quantities. Replacing caffeine with water is an excellent idea for the body's health. Exercise produces hormones, natural narcotics, which cause feelings of contentment and happiness. At the same time, the hormones help manage anxiety and depression. Friends and family seem to be the other option to decrease the stress level.

Relationships are very tricky once people get into college. Since the college experience is the complete opposite of high school, it's not unusual for people to take on a new identity. For that reason alone, people tend to drift apart from their old friends and they're forced to form new friendships. If by any chance your best friend stays your best friend through college, your friend can be there as a counselor/mentor for all your problems. Another thing people know is that it's very difficult to go into college having a serious relationship with a boyfriend/girlfriend. During college life, identities change, long distances don't help, many