Let It Go!

Threats are sometimes the best way to make things happen—that’s how YOU, Nia, got my attention and coerced me into writing this blog post. Sometimes, writing is not the easiest thing for me. You’ll see, young whippersnapper, after writing four years’ worth of papers in college compounded with the writing that I have to do for work—sometimes, you get tired of typing and having to think.

Nonetheless, the threat of getting walloped by you combined with my eagerness to write something heartfelt has brought me back to the good old blog!

I miss you dearly and I cannot believe that you are rounding out your very first year of college. I also cannot believe that we started this blog when you were just a senior in high school! How funny and how things do change.

Now I’m a full-time adult with a real job and real adult problems and you’re the student. Enjoy your time in college. People say that high school is the best time of your life but I think back on my college years on a daily basis and reflect on how lucky I was to meet the people that I met and do the things that I did! In honor of the fact that I am now old and brimming with wisdom, I’d like to curate a list for you of tips for college. I hope these pointers help and I hope that you can return to them when things, inevitably, get touch. Be encouraged, lady bug! You got this!

1.      Procrastination does not pay. I know that we are the spawn of the world’s biggest procrastinator (dear old mom) and we have become experts at putting things off but it really never pays off. You just get super stressed out and could wind up getting sick. During my senior year, my thesis adviser told me that I should take things “bird by bird.” That’s a great perspective—little by little. Then, before you know it, the entire task will be done! I still struggle with this but I am learning.

2.      Health is wealth! I developed some amazing diet habits when I was in college. The variety of foods in the dining hall introduced me to so many things I had never tried—quinoa, honey, boiled eggs. I eventually became obsessed with trying different things but I also became corned about where my food came from and how it impacted the way I felt. Now, the good, balanced eating habits that I picked up in college have carried over into my adult life. In addition to that, you have free access to a gym for the next four years so use it, damn it! I wish I had been more adamant about going in college. I always felt like I need to have a friend with me so I never went but, as I fight for one of the two treadmills in my apartment complex gym, I realize that you just need to stay in your own lane and do you. If somebody’s mean mugging  you, just ignore them. It’s only because you’re being a beast on the machine—or because you’re really sweaty but if you’re not sweating you’re not working out right.

3.      Befriend the profs. Professors are some of the most intimidating people in the world and some of them will not want to be your friend. I had my fair share of mean professors as a student but you know what, I did not give any of the f***s  because, whether they were mean or not I knew that they were being paid to help me. That doesn’t mean you should ignore their office hours until the week before finals and then go begging for help. It just means that you shouldn’t let their rough, scholarly, naturally introverted exteriors turn you off. They might not become your “friends” per se but you will have better luck of talking your way from a B+ to an A- if they see that you’re determined and that you care about your grade. Go in there and argue like a lawyer! Have you sees Clueless? Remember Cher’s negotiating skills—do that!

4.      Don’t go home too much. I know this might be hard and tempting since you have so many friends from le Boro who go home on the regular but you should really take the time to be by yourself. I’m not saying that you should be a hermit but don’t get too dependent on going home. College is about independence! Spend your weekend watching movies with friends, studying on the green, and taking in a service at the school chapel—not piled up under Mommy.

5.      GET INVOLVED. Now this is something that I know you haven’t done yet because you haven’t mentioned any clubs to me. I understand the concern,  you don’t want to distract yourself from your academic pursuits. However, my extracurricular activities were one of my favorite parts of college and my experiences opened so many doors. There is literally a club for any and every kind of interest. I bounced from Salsa Club to the Black Student Alliance  to Volunteer Emory and I even went to a Capoeira Club meeting (look it up). My time with these groups was sometimes short-lived and other times more of a commitment but each and every experience was meaningful. I met diverse and amazing people and even got some friends out of the deal. P.S. On the occasion that you’re taking a class that has a club associated with it (ex. Spanish class and Spanish club) sometimes professors with allow you to get EXTRA CREDIT for participating in the clubs. Need I say more?

I guess that’s it. I might add more stuff later. The crux of my list is that I think you should take advantage of your college experience and enjoy yourself because the real world, while nice because it doesn’t involve studying, is nothing like college. I miss it every day and I am so glad that you are just beginning your journey. There will be ups and downs but smile with every milestone—they are only preparing you for great things.

love,

i

also, have you seen Frozen? It's so cute! Totally a sister film!