Can it really be that time of year already? Seems like a few weeks ago I was seeing Facebook posts from my teacher friends saying school’s out for summer (currently playing Alice Cooper’s version in my head). Growing up I was always excited for school. I enjoyed learning and liked being with friends. As an adult I still like learning, hence the master’s degree.
Back to school means new clothes, new school supplies, more organization to make sure all the homework and projects get done. Ohhhh how I love a well organized calendar đŸ™‚ p.s. I already bought my 2017 planner and I am over the moon excited to fill it up! Nerd alert! This shirt would be perfect for me!
The start of a fall semester on campus is my favorite. The energy, the new students so cute and lost. I remember calling home after my first couple of classes ended and telling my parents I was walking to the bookstore to get the books I needed. I remember exactly where I was, what bookstore I went to, and how excited it made me to be in college. That’s my hope for all the students starting their first year of college in the coming weeks. Stay excited! It’s hard to keep that enthusiasm when you are bogged down with projects and finals and organization obligations. As someone who isn’t 18 anymore, but still remembers college vividly, when your parents (and other “old” people) say it is the best four years of your life…it’s true. Make the most of it. Study hard, but play hard too. Get to know people all over campus; other students, faculty, staff. Those relationships you build come with memories and maybe some connections down the road.
Of all the students I have worked with and all the situations I have seen I could write a book about surviving college. This experience is about finding out who you are, growing up, and making choices that will lead you to goals. If I had to sum it up I would simply say “stay excited.”
Good luck to all the freshman as you go off on this adventure. To the parents, let them go, let them explore, and let them make mistakes. They will learn. Sure it might feel terrible letting them fail, but I saw a quote recently that said a lot in few words. It said, “Failure is a bruise, not a tattoo.”
Let the first day of school pics on facebook begin!!! Until next post…xoxo Becca
Valentine’s Day is 2 days away. Are you prepared? I felt rather on top of it this year, until the hubs dropped a bomb saying he had put in motion a Valentine’s Day gift for me prior to me saying “lets not get each other gifts this year.” Needless to say I’m now scrambling to figure out something for him. I hate that, because I want the gift to be meaningful which means I want to put lots of thought and time into it. 2 days isn’t enough! Any suggestions?
I did manage to get a little something together for my student workers. I mentioned in my welcome post that I work in higher education. Anyone who went to college or works at an institution knows student workers are important to the team and are often overlooked. During my time as a student worker we often got free food, were issued polos to wear to work (hello free clothes), and generally were thanked for our work. Over the years I have had more than several student workers come and go. You tend to keep in touch with the best ones and I’m always excited to see where they’ve gone and what they are doing in life. Some stay in higher education like I did. Anyhow, back to my point. Student workers are often overlooked, like those in my current office, so to say thank you and recognize Valentine’s Day I wrapped up some candy and made a cute tag. Hope they like it!
The National Student Employment Association (NSEA) designates the second full week in April as National Student Employment Week or as The University of Texas at Austin calls it, National Student Employee Appreciation Week. UT Austin is the first place I heard about it and they even provide a list of suggested ways to show appreciation. It doesn’t have to be anything expensive, little things go a long way, especially if the whole office gets involved. I’m looking forward to doing this for our student workers this year.
What are your Valentine’s Day plans?
Until next post…
xoxo Becca
I’ll leave you with a picture of campus. Taking time to each lunch with a friend (and former student worker) in this beautiful weather was great!
Becca
born and raised Texan
Hi all and welcome to my cozy little place in the blogosphere. My name is Becca and I'm a born and raised Texan. After college I got married. Got a puppy. Got a house. And then I decided I wanted to share daily life, struggles, ambitions, and everything in between.
