Smiling health science student on a Baker College campus.
As we’re getting close to the start of the fall semester of the 2022-2023 academic year, I would like to congratulate all new students who made this wise decision to pursue their higher education dreams at Baker College. I am also delighted to welcome back our returning students; we’re so glad to be a part of your academic success. Whether you are beginning or continuing your educational journey with us, we look forward to learning, exploring, and growing together.
College is a long journey filled with knowledge, hopes, connections, and smiles, but “like any other journey,” frustrations and obstacles may occur; therefore, you should focus your efforts; every step in this journey is worth the excitement that you will feel and carry all the way through to graduation. A new semester is a new beginning that opens up your mind to endless possibilities and opportunities to be a better version of yourself; therefore, it is important to know that starting a semester strongly can be one of the most important keys to success during your time in college. Actually, the decisions you make during the first few weeks (and even days) of a new semester can have long-lasting effects on your life goals.
When starting a new journey, it is helpful to listen to the advice of people who have been there before you, while also discovering your own approach to success in the new environment. Below are some of the new semester basics that I would like to share with you:
- Managing your time may just be your biggest challenge while in college. Use a calendar to organize your day, write down your goals, schedule a time to relax, and allow for time flexibility.
- Take a reasonable course load, so you don’t put too many unreasonable expectations on yourself. Of course, have your books purchased before classes start, and visit the Academic Resource Center/OneStop to familiarize yourself with the available services and resources.
- Have your “life” logistics worked out, get your finances in order, and set up healthy outlets for fun and stress relief. It is also important to get information on where to go for help.
- And my big advice for you is to be a realistic optimist, work on yourself, believe that you will succeed, but also believe that you have to make success happen. Realistic optimism is the courage to explore opportunities and balance the negative and positive in any situation. YES! Visualize success — but also visualize the steps you will take and the decisions you will make to achieve this success.
- Use this fall semester as the starting point for becoming a better you; set specific actionable goals for yourself, keeping in mind that small incremental goals help you achieve any significant large goal. For example, if your big goal is to pass the class with a grade of A, then some of your small goals should include: managing your time, seeking academic help as needed, studying for quizzes, engaging in class discussions, and making your mental health a priority.
Difficult circumstances can happen anytime, so you need to practice a balanced lifestyle all the time, keeping in mind that it is important to talk about feelings, form positive relationships, eat well and get a good night’s sleep to maintain mental health. If you’re new to this college life, start it off in harmony, so you don’t end up exhausted down the road. Remember, each semester will be different, and each fall is a new opportunity to reevaluate and set new goals for the year ahead. Like any other endeavor, college is about learning, practicing, and growing; find the balance between your personal life and college projects, stay committed to success, and, most importantly, enjoy the process!
For more information:
Looking forward to meeting you soon! Have a great new school year!
Author’s Note:
I feel and practice a “fresh start” often, with the start of the fall semester, on my birthday, early in the week, on the new year, when I get promoted, when I practice new skills, and when I learn from my mistakes…etc. I have no specific definition for what success means to me, I have no single measure for success, and I also have no single answer on how to be successful. I deal with any personal goal as a precious portrait; I hold myself accountable, I utilize positive emotions to overcome fear, and I seek help as needed. I cultivate my abilities to learn and help others and more importantly look for ways to stay positive and self-encouraging
