It's edging on half a year since I've been an undergraduate student. And to be honest I was depressed about it. Not necessarily drown my sorrows in three buck chuck depressed, but more like...it's now okay to have an alcoholic beverage or four with every meal depressed (at least for a little bit). It didn't truly  hit me until the beginning of September, Labor Day to be more specific. 

Seeing all the statuses, headlines, and back to school ads is when it set in. 

it's really over

I thought to myself, what's the best thing I could do to get outta this funk while helping others?  

And that's where this list comes in

Ten Pieces of Advice for College Students:

1. It's not always going to be easy. You're going to experience the lowest of the lows, and there are going to be those times where you feel alone and confused and unsure of yourself and your decisions. It's okay! Those too shall pass. We are a generation that lives in the moment, so it's normal to feel as if time is at a standstill. Because it's not always going to be hard either. You're going to have some of the best times of your life during these years, so enjoy the moments while you can, and cherish the ones you've had.
   
   
2. Ask questions. Everyone has those times where you're sitting in class, eyes glazed, with no real clue as to what the actual fuck is going on. Don't be afraid to ask for some clarification! I know it's cliche, but "you're not the only one wondering the answer to that question". Classes in college are often just one man shows, where they talk, you listen, you leave. Having your professor put a face to the name is usually a plus **caution : if you've missed so many classes that the professor is unaware that you are their student, I would suggest holding your tongue** 
   
   
3. GO TO FUCKING CLASS. I know these aren't in order of importance but this one is essential yo. Just go, I'm telling you it will make your life easier. Trust me, there are going to be times where you can't keep water down, and you know how much physical movement your body can accept in those "finest" moments. But if you think you can make it there, then put your best effort in doing so. Being late is often frowned upon, but hey, you're facing the music. (note, questionable behavior is often forgone if you're dressed up, beleedat)
   
   
4. Office Hours aren't just for the teacher's pets. I really regret not taking advantage of these more. Don't forget that your professors are people too! They have bad days, just like us, and they in turn...have interests of their own. If you find yourself in a classroom being led by someone you admire, talk to them!! Building relationships with professors, whether they be present or past will only strengthen your network. You never know when they'll come in handy, from recommendations for a job to a restaurant they wanna be in your corner. Let them.
   
   
5. Divide & Conquer. Being in college comes with an abundance of free time. Think about it, you spend maybe 15 hours in a classroom what, a week? That leaves plenty of room for activities!!! And plenty of room for activities that aren't school related as well. There really isn't any real homework in college either, it's mostly the standard three tests/papers, a project or two?, a midterm/final (and it's rare to even have all those) If you have a large project or paper due, start breaking it down. Tell yourself to find a few sources one day, just find! not actually read, and call it a day. Maybe a few days later, look through those sources and start pulling out some key facts/info. It may seem like a no brainer but taking the procrastination out of an assignment by dividing/conquering is half the battle.
   
   
6. (going along with ^^^) Make To-Do Lists. I started doing this the latter half of my freshman year and I've been making them ever since. For me, it helps me remember and reiterate what I need to get done, and I find pleasure in crossing them bad bitches off when I'm done. tl;dr making lists of things you need to get done helps you stay organized yo.
   
   
7. Find. Your. Zone . Being surrounded by hundreds (sometimes thousands) of people aged 18-24, doesn't always lend itself to being the most productive environment. Find your "happy place" no, but real talk... Find an area where you feel most productive/in the zone. Whether that's in the library, in an empty classroom, on a porch, or at a coffee shop off campus, have one in mind for when you need to buckle down.
   
   
8. Homesickness. I'd be lying if I said I never felt homesick at school. Similarly to numero uno, there are times where you feel utterly alone. No matter how many friends you surround yourself with, sometimes you just really miss home. There's also that odd feeling when you finally do  go home, and that place that was once a safe-haven now feels a bit odd, and you're faced with two places that feel a tad unfamiliar. The only advice I have for surpassing this, is to wait it out. It will  go away. the eventually part depends on the person.
   
   
9. Talk to people you don't know. Try sitting away from friends the first day of class. I know it's a sense of relief when you walk in and see a familiar face, but why not add a new  face to your ever growing book. - I swear that one just came out like that
   
   
10. You are not your GPA. The sooner you accept this fact, the happier you'll be. it's not a reflection on you as a person,  by any means. I personally learned this lesson a bit too late in my college career. Growing up, my mom always hounded me about my grades. I got my first C in college, and yet the world didn't end. Instead, I started to not even look at my (returned) graded assignments. Once I started focusing on the information itself, rather than worrying about regurgitating some unnatural summary of a semester's worth of notes, the more I got out of it. I internalized as much as I could, and tried to apply it to me as a human. My grades improved, and I felt more confident in the classroom.

Whether you're entering your freshman or fifth year of college. Whether that college is a two, four, seven year long process....I hope my short-comings can help shed light on how to have a more successful and stress-free collegiate experience. 

keep it raw.