What's your biggest challenge in college?

Hi, Jhovani!

I lost my 16-year-old brother a week after I started college. He had an undiagnosed brain tumor and died quickly. His death was devastating to me and my family. My parents went from having two children to really having none, since I was off at school.

So balancing my family with the completely new world of college was a huge challenge for me. I struggled mightily that first quarter.

I was lucky I was not far from home and had many friends from high school who were in the same state I was. I also quickly made some very good friends in college who were incredibly supportive. I was aggressive about reaching out to my adviser and college professors for academic help. Once they got over the shock of my story, they were supportive, too.

In the end, college was about organization and balance. After a pretty messed up first quarter (first year, to be truthful), during which I spent a lot of time going home to spend time with my folks, I had to get serious about making time for classes, studies and my campus job, in addition to taking care of myself. I needed to schedule down time when I had no pressure. I spent a lot of time biking on campus that year (when there wasn't snow on the ground). I also realized that even though I had all sorts of freedom ... I could skip class if I wanted, drop classes, study or not ... I was there for a reason and it was silly to waste such an awesome opportunity.

My freshman year, especially, I made sure to stack my schedule with classes I really wanted to take. I worked to create a schedule that left me the proper time to do the other things I had to do (like work). My second quarter I dropped a class that was impossible for me and gave myself permission not to feel guilty about it. I went to class. I worked with classmates to share notes and study together (we even tag-teamed a lecture class taught by a professor we all hated). I stopped procrastinating and writing papers at the last minute. And by my spring semester, I was a very happy, well-adjusted freshman who already had conquered classes in my major and was looking forward to the rest of my time there.

Part of the answer is to ask for help ... academic, psychological ... whatever kind of help you need. Don't be shy. That's what it's there for. And the coaching/help available on campuses now is amazing compared to when I went to school. And that's for a good reason.

Part of the answer is to remind yourself why you chose your school, your major, remind yourself why you're there and keep those goals in mind.

Part of the answer is to be realistic. You're just not going to be able to do everything. There are things you have to do ... go to class, study, perhaps work. But it's important to leave some time to explore all that your college has to offer. Because you'll learn that it's often your life at college outside of the classroom that proves to be the most important part of your education.

Make sure you get enough sleep. It sounds silly, but it's important. That's a tip from a big night owl who was famous for pulling all-nighters. But I'd also nap when I got a chance.

Party. Meet people. Date. Have fun. HAVE FUN. Every day. It's a HUGE part of balance.

Finally, give yourself permission to take time when you're not doing anything. Take a walk. Read a book. Daydream. To me, it's the down time that helps create the balance you'll need.

The biggest challenge in college was procrastination. Don't wait to get things done, just start early so you won't be stressed at the end. Be proactive and be efficient with your time.