This week I want to let you into my life a little bit more.
About 8 weeks ago, May 3rd, I began my first class at Oakland University; I addressed this in my previous blog, Don't Wait.
Also, in the last couple of weeks, I've heard many people mention that they are nervous about college: scared to move, stressed about future classes, worried about making friends, basically just overwhelmed.
This made me want to share my first experience at a university, maybe it will help you.
My class was Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-4 p.m. I don't live at Oakland University so I had to commute. I would work in the mornings, eat quickly, then drive to Oakland for the three hour class.
My first day I was nervous, there were a thousand thoughts in my head about what could possibly go wrong. To begin with, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find my class. Second, there would be so many people. Third, the drive was new and long. Fourth, I wouldn't know anyone. Fifth, well, the list goes on. Every one of these anxiety provoking thoughts were valid, and I'm sure I'm not alone in having them.
I was overwhelmed on many fronts, as I had just launched my blog weeks before, was finishing my other classes at Macomb Community College, and starting a new chapter of life at a University.
Spoiler: it all turned out okay.
The work load wasn't unbearable, but the school work mixed with blogs, mixed with a big change was very daunting to me and I'm sure it can be daunting to you too. As the weeks went by, my stress lowered everyday. I went from having "weights" on my shoulders to being very confident; not just confident in my school abilities, but my autonomy grew.
I'm here to tell you that while the new change was scary, it turned out good. I maintained my gpa, put time into my blog, set aside moments of Jesus time, scheduled relaxation, made a friend, and grew in my overall self-confidence. I'm sure as I keep going there will be more challenges and changes ahead, but now I can look back and remember I got through this one so the next doesn't have to be so scary.
How does this apply to you? Besides knowing that you aren't alone in being apprehensive, I'm going to give you some practical tips on how to manage the change.
Breath first. In the morning, before you start your day by stressing, take a deep breath, say a prayer, be thankful for all the new opportunities coming your way. Try to be mindful before you let the negative thoughts flood in.
Schedule reset time. Often times, when the changes are extreme, we don't rest. We get caught up in what to do next. For my reset, I do one of my top 5, but your reset may look a little different. Whatever it is, make sure you have some time to yourself.
Focus on the step. Don't focus on the whole staircase. Look at what is in front of you. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the staircase, I have too many questions, ideas, or plans for the future. When the staircase overwhelms me, I open up my notes and write it down. For example, "look up college tuition for next semester." Then I will remember, but I can shift my focus back to the step in front of me.
Remember, change is necessary for growth. Without stress, we would never grow. We all need pressure and change to progress.
Try these. Share these with your friends. It will all be okay.
Grace and Peace,
Evelyn
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