Back to School

Today was my first day back at school after what felt like a very long winter break. I know everyone says this at the beginning of the semester, but I'm really going to try to buckle down this time.

My grades took a little slip in the fall, nothing major, but a little cause for concern. I feel much more organized this time around and I'm optimistic about school, work, and everything in-between! 

So now I'm sharing my first day of school tips incase some of your school's give you obnoxiously long breaks, too. 

1. Show up early. 

I'm always paranoid about walking into the classroom and choosing a seat when people are all around. Showing up early eliminates that for the most part. Plus, it's a million times better to be early than it is to be late. Walking in after the professor has started talking is practically mortifying and will certainly not put you at the top of their list. 

2. Dress comfortably. 

You will be in new classrooms with new faces and there will probably be a few awkward moments in the day. You don't want to be worrying about your outfit in addition to everything else (like the baseball player sitting next to you). 

3. Don't dress like a bum. 

Yes, I know I said dress comfortably, but please put in a little effort. This is your only chance to make a good impression. Save the sweatpants for snow-days or other emergency situations and the gym clothes for the gym. Show the professor (and your classmates) some respect; let them know you care. 

4. Check out the class page online before you go to class. 

Most universities use sites like Moodle or Blackboard and chances are, your professor has already posted their syllabus. Take a look and see if there's anything you need to have for the first day. I usually order textbooks after the first week of class, but I would hate to have an Elle Woods first-day-of-law-school moment. 

5. Don't sweat the small stuff. 

Even if you have a super awkward experience (like forgetting how to speak when that cute guy asked how your break was), don't let it put a damper on your day. So what if your professor calls you out for not knowing what "quantitative business analysis" means exactly. It's only your first day (or week or year, or whatever)! You're here to learn and there's always room for improvement! Everyone has their awkward moments (even Beyoncé, I'm sure). 

Good luck! Let me know how your first day was!