10 Lessons Learned

I am nearing the end of my third week of classes at Mizzou and thought I'd compile a list of things I have learned this far about college life:

1. Dining hall food is really not that bad, but if you tell yourself it's going to be bad then it will be. 

2. Never walk alone at night. Always walk in big groups when there's lots of snow.

3. If you're not a night person, get over it.

4. In big lecture halls, sit in the front. You may get spit on but at least you can hear.

5. Never take cold medicine before an 8 a.m. class, or if you do make sure you have someone sitting by 

you who can poke you in the ribs if you start nodding off.

6. It's a good idea to have someone sitting next to you who will poke you in the ribs if you start nodding off even without the cold medicine.

7. Start your assignments the day they're assigned, or if possible before they're assigned. The key to a minimally stressful life is time management.

8. Reading assignments will do you no good if you don't absorb them.

9. Check Blackboard and your email often. Class may be cancelled but you'd never know it if you didn't check your email.

10. Don't expect an "A" in every class. Most professors don't expect or even want you to get an "A". It makes them look bad. 

Some of these things I've learned first hand, others I've just heard from others enough times to take the warning. As Annie would say, "It's a hard-knock life for us" college students. But if you manage your time and resources wisely, you'll reap a lot and the outlook for your future will be brighter.