Peer Advisor Michelle offers words of wisdom on managing life and college with a little help from our favorite regional manager of a Pennsylvania, mid-size paper provider, Michael Scott.
With midterm season
underway, this high-stress period may induce mini-existential crises. It is
around this time when students reflect on how their semester is going. Some may
be satisfied and ecstatic with the progress they have made, while others might
be thinking “where has the time gone and what in the world have I even done?” To
help guide this reflection in a more productive direction, I recruited Michael
Scott for his expertise on life. Thankfully, he has a plethora of knowledge to
impart on you all. So, here are some quotes from our favorite Dunder Mifflin
Regional Manager applied to the context of GW life:
“You miss 100% of
the shots you don’t take. – Wayne Gretzky” – Michael Scott
This one is pretty self-explanatory.
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and try new things! If you always
remain in your comfort zone, you might miss out. Note, you might think that I
am referring to internships, but I am also referring to experiences in general.
The Foggy Bottom bubble is very real. So, I encourage you to gather a group of
friends (or go by yourself because solo adventures are also super fun) and
visit the other neighborhoods of DC. District Connections or Facebook events
are a great way to start your search for the many things happening around DC.
Also, asking upperclassmen or professors works too!
Sometimes I’ll
start a sentence and I don’t even know where it’s going. I just hope I find it
along the way.
This quote is most emblematic of
Honors Origins. Many of you may be intimidated by your Origins professor
because they are just so intelligent, and it truly seems like every word out of
their mouth is the most profound idea you’ve ever heard. It’s borderline Plato
vibes. However, I promise that you will get more out of these discussion-based
classes if you, wait for it, participate and discuss. All the professors are
understanding and legitimately want to know what your perspective is on the
topics. They won’t shoot down your ideas or call you stupid. Instead, they’ll
follow up with questions to help you get a better grasp on the concepts and
learn how to defend your ideas. It’s a great place to practice your speaking and
analytical skills.
I am running away
from my responsibilities. And it feels good.
So, I would suggest not following
Michael’s lead and hopping onto a train to escape from everything. I know I
went into college thinking I could do it all and flawlessly balance classes,
social life, student orgs, an internship, etc. However, being busy in high
school is not the same as being busy in college. I too have an issue with
overcommitment and am known to run around campus from classes to meetings to
events. But it is important to recognize your limitations and learn that it is
okay to say no. Be intentional in your activities because putting in just
enough effort isn’t fair to that commitment or yourself. You should be fully
engaged in the work you do because your time is valuable and should be put
towards what you care about.
I-declare-bankruptcy!
Please budget your GWorld. I know it
might seem like you have a lot of money and can afford that $8 Chipotle bowl or
$5 Chick-fil-a sandwich, but it will add up. At the end of the first
semester my first year, I had a friend who was running low on fund and ate
instant oatmeal packets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for an entire week… To
avoid running out at the end of the semester, plan and budget right now by
incorporating cooking into your routine or sacrificing that Peet’s/Starbucks
coffee. For example, try to utilize resources like the free coffee in the
Honors Townhouse (BYOM: bring your own mug).
I understand nothing.
Ask questions! Don’t be afraid to go
to a professor’s office hours when you don’t know what’s going on (but you can
still go if you do know what’s happening). They might seem intimidating but
they’re here to help you. You’re paying for these classes, so why not get the
most bang for your buck and take advantage of that resource? Additionally, you
might not even realize you’re confused until you unexpectedly get back an
unfavorable grade. Sure, you might think “oh, in high school I only studied
minimally,” but study habits from high school aren’t always transferrable to
college work. You may have to adjust the way you study and that’s totally
normal and acceptable.
And I knew
exactly what to do. But in a much more real sense, I had no idea what to do.
Three words:
four-year plans. You’ve been tasked with mapping out your next four years here
at GW and deciding what potential classes to take. It’s a lofty assignment. You
might think that you need to have everything figured out, but you don’t! Sometimes
we have no idea what we are doing next and that’s okay. Remember, you’ve only
been here for 6 weeks and still have so much time to explore your interests.
Stay open minded and take each step, one at a time.
I am dead inside.
Imagine how tired we are. Midterms
are here and you’re getting minimal sleep, your body is essentially pumping
coffee, and the dark bags under your eyes make you look like a panda (most
likely minus the cuteness factor). Work is stacking up and fall break can’t
come sooner. But, even if you think you can hang on until fall break, don’t
push off self-care. Please remember to take a break because there is a limit to
how much your brain and body can take. Overworking yourself will make you less
productive, disorganized, and even more stressed. Plus, it’s flu season and
sustained stress without healthy habits increases your likelihood of getting
sick. Take time away from your work to do a face mask, go to Helwell, spend
time with friends, or whatever you need to de-stress.
Café Disco:
Everybody dance now!
It’s never a bad time for a dance party. When you are stressed out and can’t handle reading another word of black text on white paper, pull out your speakers, play some upbeat tunes, and just dance. Get your body moving to recharge, build up that energy, then refocus with a more positive headspace.
Only thing that
could make this day better is ice cream.
Ice cream is the solution to
everything. Period. (p.s. everyone should try Jeni’s ice cream)
