What is something you did to handle your stress? -Noel Owens
For me personally, when I get overwhelmed I make a list categorizing the things I have to do by the priority in which they need to get done. Then I put the list away and go for a walk. Lucky for us, Winthrop is a beautiful campus and there are plenty of nice relaxing places to walk, or I even sometimes go off campus to Winthrop Lake or to downtown Rock Hill. After I take my walk, I go back and work on the list, little by little, taking breaks to eat or call my mom. Another thing you could do would be to talk to your parents or friends about how you are feeling. Sometimes talking about your stress makes you realize how manageable things really are. The biggest thing is to just remember that things will be okay and that you can get through it. Don’t get discouraged.
How do you make time for a job, homework, class and a social life? – Julia Koolstra
Time management is challenging when you start college, especially when you add a job on top of all of your other responsibilities. When I was a freshman, I worked four jobs just to make sure I could pay my tuition. One thing I think you should do when looking for a job is to consider an on-campus job. This will help you balance things because your commute is literally the walk from your dorm to whichever building you work in, and on-campus jobs fully understand your commitment to being a student, and therefore are flexible with your schedule. I currently work as a desk host in Roddey Hall, and it’s a great job because I am able to do my homework while I work.
Another way to create balance is to find ways to combine your homework and social life. Have study groups with your friends, go to the library together, or go to the park to do homework.
But at the end of the day, make sure that the workload you are putting on yourself is manageable. If you are taking 18 credit hours, and working 30 hours a week, and trying to spend time with your friends, you aren’t going to do very well in any area of your life. It’s much better to cut down your responsibilities to keep your sanity; you will do much better in handling your relationships, your classes and your job. It might be hard to find that balance at first, but the more you work at it, the easier it will become until it’s like second nature to you.
How do you keep yourself from wanting to go home every weekend? –Nicole Weiss
It’s easy to feel homesick and want to go back home where you are comfortable, but just keep in mind that when you go home every weekend, you are missing out on some of the best parts of your college experience. The best way to get yourself to stay on campus during the weekend is to get involved. Winthrop has over 180 organizations and clubs that you can get involved with, and you could even make your own. The more involved you are on campus, the more likely you are to make friends and grow roots in the Winthrop and Rock Hill communities, which will make you want to stay at Winthrop during as many weekends as possible.
Graphic: Elizabeth Talbert/ The Johnsonian
