know the score 2

What? This the most inspirational time of year! Lower the bar? What about those life changing goals, the approximately two days of staggering perfection, the meticulously organized and sanitized workspace, a gleaming dish-free sink and that mindful, calm presence that freaks your roommates out (with a trace of self satisfaction tugging at that peaceful smile).

Feeling distinctly unprepared for exams this fall? The stress and anxiety that accompanies playing catch-up can be overwhelming. Ontario college students are currently going through an extreme example of this, as they try to make up for five weeks of class cancellations due to a work stoppage. Whether you are one of the affected college students or a first year post-secondary student who is new to this process, cramming is never fun.

So, you may recognize this advice: Stop going out so much! Hunker down! Get to work! Absolute pearls of wisdom for extroverted students compelled to socialize like a bee drawn to a flower. But what about introverts, who, depending upon the course of study, can account for almost 80% of the student population? (This number is about 30-50% in the general population, even lower for majors like Broadcast Journalism. Don't know your Myers-Briggs personality type? Check this test out).

Sometimes, when things in your life aren't working, you recognize it immediately and make changes to improve the situation and how you feel. Always late for your first class? You set your alarm earlier (or task a friend with waking you up). A particular person brings you down? You hang with friends that lift you up. But sometimes, it is hard to see things objectively. Reaching out to peer coaches, counselling and health services (remember those display booths you saw during the Health Fair on campus?), academic services, your RA, friends or parents may be a necessary first step.

Now that we are fully immersed in October, the realities of being a student are surfacing. It's not just about making new friends, going out, navigating new neighbourhoods, staying up late or getting good grades – day to day life has arrived and the finer points of being a ‘successful’ student need to be addressed.

The first few weeks of college or university can be a bit of a whirlwind. New people, classes, professors and routines conspire with long line ups and getting lost to completely fill up your days. You don't really have time to process. Transition seems to happen organically: I'm here, I'm at my class, I am chanting weird songs with my floor mates, I am commuting from home like a boss. Everything is great. But what happens when the roar starts to dim and you need to knuckle down, face the daily grind and try your hand at adulting? This is when the overwhelm can kick in. How do people eat healthy meals and work their part time jobs and study and meet new people and actually get to class on time? The great thing about all the campuses we visit is that they have built in resources (online or in person) to help you navigate your first year (and beyond!). And they are free!

Ok, that may be stretching things a bit. But it is the start of a new school year, and for many of you, the first steps into a whole new life: new courses, friends, possibly roommates, maybe even dorm life -- with no parents or guardians to run interference. It's time to get a taste of independence, leave high school behind and find out more about who you are. Take it all in. Go to events you'd normally never, ever, ever consider. Leave your door open and say hi to floor mates. Open yourself to new people, cultures, foods and clubs. And don't forget to check out what's happening on campus. This will be the hub of your universe for at least the next year, so avail yourself to all the campus resources on offer. There is a whole team of people working hard to make you feel at home. Check out Frosh events with fun group activities. Or club days, where you can shop around and join groups that resonate with you – from student issues, to politics to the environment. Or try something a little less heavy and sign up for intramurals (unless you are super competitive, then it's serious business).

Volunteering is a great way to spend a portion of your spare time for reasons other than building your community hours. Here are 6 reasons to volunteer as a student!

Midterm season has arrived, & with said season, comes the inevitable stress that students face. We often times associate stress busting for students with activities that break the bank and leave you tired (i.e. partying or staying up late with friends).

With the school year just starting, it may be a little challenging to get out of our summer spending habits. Here are a few tips to help you ensure your schooling and necessities are covered – and – that you’ve allocated a little bit of spending money for entertainment.

You hear a lot about finishing strong in sports; the season, the race, the game. (Some football players have even taken to shaving this message onto their heads.) The most notable demonstration of failing to finish strong is sprinter Usain Bolt’s notorious early celebrations: He routinely celebrates in advance of crossing the finish line, most famously at the 2012 Beijing Olympics. Now, if this was a fable, a slower, more steadfast runner would have caught him off guard and passed him. But, come on, we’re talking the Fastest Man on Earth. But…if you look at it from a ‘personal best’ perspective, Bolt has blown countless opportunities to blast his own record. Lab coat-types have analyzed his 2012 performance and have determined that he could have crushed his past times if he hadn’t started flailing around prematurely. By losing focus and finishing sloppy, he didn`t perform to the best of his abilities.

A couple of weeks into second semester and grim reality has hit: it’s a new semester—a new year, even!— and things haven’t miraculously changed. You aren’t exactly jumping out of bed for your early class. You’re starting to slip behind on assigned readings. Those A’s aren’t magically appearing on assignments. And the healthy breakfast you imagined eating after your brisk morning walk has been replaced by sugary coffee concoctions and whatever snack you can ‘grab-to-go’ at the bus-stop coffee joint…if you even make it that far: usually you end up obsessively playing Bejeweled Blitz under the covers because it’s too cold to go outside.

The New Year is responsible for all sorts of starry-eyed, gleaming-teeth, manic positive stories and quotes about change and fresh starts. Take this inspirational (or terrifying, depending on how you look at it!) quote from Edith Lovejoy Pierce,

First semester is officially on the books. Can you feel the sense of relief? The school break isn’t just about eating too much food, raiding cookie tins and pretending mulled wine tastes good—the holidays are about renewal, comfort and reconnecting with family, friends…and yourself.

Exam season is right around the corner and you are a stressed-out student with the world at your doorstep but spare change in your pockets. Financial frugality in school can be difficult, if not impossible. Devouring ramen noodles and reusing underwear is no way to spend these cherished years.