Back to School Fears & How to Overcome Them
Written By: Ayrwyn Cousins
Going back to school after a long break can be challenging for many reasons. Perhaps you have burnout– or a lack of motivation, maybe you aren’t feeling confident about a new class you have, or maybe starting a new semester is leaving you feeling stressed and overwhelmed. These are all valid, very rational fears– they can also be overcome. Here are a few tips that I use to overcome those ‘new semester jitters’:
Try to view your new classes in a more positive light. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of work and new concepts that you are going to learn, but it’s important to remember that most of your classes focus on something you are passionate about-- or at least something that you have an interest in. Try to focus on how much you will enjoy the content you are learning rather than the amount.
Join Clubs and/or a team! Joining clubs or joining a team can help you make lots of friends and find others who have similar interests to you. I find being part of a club/team oftentimes leads to stronger friendships and connections with people that could last a lifetime!
Talk to others about your feelings of fear. Being at university can be overwhelming and terrifying in a lot of cases. This is why it is so important to reach out to others and talk about your struggles. Often, when we are feeling low and discouraged, it’s easy to feel like you are alone, but you aren’t. By talking to others you can relieve some of your stress and also find similarities in others who are going through the same difficulties.
Use all of the resources provided by CUE: Concordia offers a lot of resources for those who are struggling with classes, mental health, money, etc. It’s important to seek these resources out and to use them to your advantage. It can make your semester so much easier. Some of these resources include: The Student Success Center, The Financial Aid office, the Library, Office Hours provided by professors, and a whole lot more (you can find lots of information on these resources all over the place through posters on billboards and such.
Hopefully, some of these tips help you overcome your fears and embrace the university experience for all of its positives rather than its negatives! Happy Winter 2024 semester everyone!
