Dorms have carefully been packed away, alarms were turned off a very long time ago, and you can finally shower without the need for shower shoes and in the personal comfort of your home!

Summer is here and not only does that mean an end to one school year, but it welcomes the brief break before a start to another one.

Whether you are a high school sophomore, rising college freshman, or done with your undergraduate career at a university, summer is also the perfect time to take a deep breath and reflect on all of the lessons that your academic career has taught you. 

From attending college my freshman year during the ‘20-’21 school year, I can say to myself that a COVID-restricted college experience was definitely different from the sophomore year I just wrapped up. 

From the first day of the fall semester as a sophomore, campus was way more lively than it had been at any time during my freshman year. More people were on campus, more campus spots were open than the previous school year, and more memories were ready to be made. 

Now, after a successful fall and spring semester, I can reflect on all the lessons that I learned from one school year to the next. Here are some highlights of what I learned:

B-U-D-G-E-T

You will thank me for this one, I promise. 

If you take any advice from the lessons that I share today, it is to never recklessly spend your money. Leaving home as a college student welcomes a new air of independence that, for many, also means financial independence as well. 

College may be your first time picking up a job (or handling a refund check) and it is important to never let dollar signs sway your ability to save and make smart purchases. I get it, those sneakers are really cute, however, a rainy-day fund and financial security is a lot cuter. 

I am not saying to never treat yourself, especially in times of academic stress, but a daily, weekly, or even monthly budget could be the saving grace for your pockets and unexpected emergencies that arise during the school year. 

Organization is Key 🔑

Buy a planner. 

No really. Buy a planner, make notes, set reminders, schedule alarms, triple-check due dates, and create outlines that have your work planned out for you. 

College, where your schedule starts to become tangled within the time-sensitivity and convenience of others, is not the time to show up fashionably or unintentionally late to an important presentation or exam. 

Categorize, pre-plan, color-code if you need! One thing you can control is what you give your time to, so make sure that you account for all of your minutes, seconds, and hours.

Don’t Join Every Org

Don’t stretch yourself thin. 

In college, being eager to make friends and to feel like you are a part of something can be a driving force in you not being able to say “no” to new opportunities. 

Learn how to say no. Learn how to say you don’t have the time (or even the money) to be a part of a new group, club, or organization. It will be OKAY. 

As great as that new group may look on your resumé, the academic exhaustion will hit you like a bus when it comes to engaging in social activities (especially during finals season). If you can’t put your best foot forward, it is perfectly fine to sit back and pass on joining something new until you are ready. 

Your Mental Health Matters

The most important lesson that I learned my sophomore year is that (surprise!) my mental health matters. 

That freshman year excitement and need for academic achievement will only get you so far until other responsibilities and other aspects of your life start to call for your attention.

The inevitable academic/social burnout is real and something that I think every student will experience at least once within their life. 

Motivation will be little, drive will be non-existent, and assignments will still be due on the due date. So what do you do? 

Put yourself first. 

The world is not going to end if you take a break, email for an assignment extension, or even get a bad grade.

Pick up a new hobby, sit in the sun, Facetime a hometown friend, binge-watch that new series, (I know I just mentioned budgeting, but) buy that DoorDash or UberEats that you’ve been craving. 

Hitting a mental block can completely incapacitate your ability to do work and lead to long-run physical and mental consequences, so (PLEASE) take time to give yourself the care that you need.