The New Academic Year

With the new academic year just beginning come challenges, struggles, excitement, stress, and hope. Friendships, academics, and new beginnings fill young students' minds as this time of the year comes.

As a sophomore in college, I was looking for a new beginning - a time to make better friends, introduce a new level of work ethic into my challenging pre-med course load, and experience New York City as a college student. But the same question lived in my mind throughout the summer - how do I socially grow, when I am about to start on the hardest years in college as a pre-med student? A question that almost all college students ask, regardless of their major or path.

This challenge is inevitable, but it is an obstacle not impossible to overcome. True friends are those who realize that school is important, but school shouldn't engulf your entire life. A mental break is always a must. As my classes began getting more challenging, and I began to spend hours on end in the library, my roommate never fails to take me to a nice dinner at least once a week. A dinner break once a week is far less social time than any individual deserves, so I make sure to spend at least an hour every night to myself. Whether it be catching up on my Netflix shows, going to the gym, or even just catching up on sleep, I can always count on this time at the end of every day to be my 'alone' time.

Challenges come and go, but balance is key! Good luck to all my fellow students as they begin a new year full of success.