AFTER a relaxing, peaceful, month-long winter break, every college student faces an inevitable struggle - the realization that he or she must return to that dreaded state of reading, writing and attending lectures, otherwise known as learning. Gone are the carefree days of cruising around town with friends, reading for pleasure and "Real World" marathons.
With the shocking return of a jam-packed class schedule, many University students may face a "second semester slump," a common form of college depression. To prevent this occurrence, students should take extra and simple precautions, such as finding creative outlets for their hobbies and managing their free time wisely.
Many University students feel pressure to make the second semester 20 times better than the first through higher grades and more extra-curricular activities. Because of their over-eagerness, these students often wind up having a stressful and unsuccessful semester.
What students need to learn is they should take advantage of their time outside class in a sensible manner that allows the second semester to be more relaxing and enjoyable than the first.
For example, many students seem unaware of a certain uncomfortably quiet place brimming with knowledge, also known as the library. Admittedly, the library is by no means a thrill a minute. However, any one of several libraries around Grounds provide students with a peaceful learning environment that encourages study. So instead of spending numerous boring evenings at Clemons or Alderman, students should find time throughout the day, namely between classes, to visit the library. This way, studying will not cut into the students' personal time, while still allowing the students to be as productive as possible.
Additionally, University students have a tendency to try to be overachievers - hey, this is the University of Virginia - and become involved in more activities than they can handle. With hundreds of outlets for students' hobbies and interests, ranging from religious activities to club sports, it may be hard for students to concentrate on just a couple of these highly diverse organizations.
Instead of becoming overly involved in many activities, extensive participation in one or two interests actually can relieve the tension caused by school and help students become more dedicated to University life.
Through extracurricular organizations, students can go on trips outside the University community and meet new people both inside and outside the University community. While intensively pursuing a hobby may appear to take up an obscene amount of time, such activities lend a much-needed break from the normal routine. This makes students' college careers more enjoyable, and can inspire students to focus on less-desirable activities, such as homework, when they could use a change of pace.
Students should remember when selecting courses that college life is not a race to see who can complete their major in record time. There is no need for anyone to take macroeconomics, Calculus 132 and astrophysics in one semester. The University offers an amazing amount of classes geared toward making the most of students' college careers.
Students should take some time to pursue topics they have always been interested in, whether that interest is African drumming or learning Hebrew. Enrolling in a fun class, like a physical education course, a music group or even simply a class with an interesting professor, not only makes going to class more enjoyable, it also helps raise a student's grade point average. University extra-curricular life provides plenty of time for a student to get his or her "dirty work" done and still have time to pursue various topics he or she loves.
After my first semester at the University, I realized that although I was having a decent time at school both academically and socially, I was not using my personal time in the wisest way. To solve this problem, I became more active in choir, participated in a play, and even discovered that magical world known as the library.
So from a University student who has experienced the overwhelming struggle to find where she belongs first-hand, heed my advice: Keep your schoolwork in the back of your mind, but remember to pursue the interests you truly love.
(Michelle Drucker's column appears Tuesdays in The Cavalier Daily.)
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