By The Editorial Board
It’s a new school year, but not a new you. Don’t reinvent yourself; just work smarter at making this your year. It doesn’t matter if this is your first year on Baylor’s campus, your last or somewhere in between. This is the first truly normal year we’ve had as a collective student body since that one spring break that seemed to go on forever.
This year, you won’t have socially distanced classes, and you won’t have to keep up with the latest COVID-19 guidelines; your only responsibility is yourself. Put your personal well-being first. However, prioritize your education and class attendance as much as possible. Try your hardest to say yes to things, and don’t back out at the last second for an extra hour in bed — this includes saying yes to going to class!
Whatever your goals are for the year, figure out how to make this school year the one you look back on and wish you could live again and again because it held ‘the good old days.’
There’s no point in going to a school that costs over $67,000 every year if you aren’t planning on applying yourself to make sure this really is the year you see through rose-tinted glasses.
If your goals include finding lifelong friends and building enduring relationships, get involved in the things that give you joy. It doesn’t always have to be something you put on your resume; it can simply be something you get a kick out of. From the Unicycle Academy to the Bears Quidditch Association, Baylor has various clubs to get involved in. You don’t have to join every single club or organization out there, though. Maintaining balance is key, and the letters in your Instagram bio don’t determine your social wealth. Just apply yourself socially. Remember that this isn’t high school where you see the same people at the same times every day. People drop classes and miss social events here and there. You have to show intentionality and interest to form worthwhile relationships. Otherwise, this year will be a lonely experience.
While it’s important to pour into friendships, don’t discredit the need to pour into yourself in some way too. If your cup is empty, you can’t help others the way you want to. Be sure to figure out what you need to replenish your soul. Whether that’s a solo activity like meditation, music or viable sleep, advancing yourself personally isn’t something to put on the back burner.
It’s overwhelming to juggle so many things at once, but don’t forget the reason you came to Baylor in the first place: education. Even if you’re not paying full tuition, you still worked hard to get those scholarships, grants or loans. Don’t cut yourself short by not prioritizing your grades. If you know you’re going to struggle in that class, develop a relationship with the professor. Make sure they can recognize your face when you go into their office at the end of the semester asking to get your grade bumped.
Saying “this year will be better” isn’t going to get you anywhere, so work at achieving your goals. It’s easy enough to start out on the right foot, but make sure you maintain those good habits, and don’t grow complacent as the year progresses. Take personal time, but don’t get lazy. You can start from scratch, but know yourself and set realistic goals. If you need accountability, build it into your schedule, or find an accountability partner.
All in all, make this year, your year. These are the good old days in the making.
