As I unlock the door to my room and glance upon the notice on my door, I feel saddened. It has finally arrived; my last week of class freshman year. The notice contains information for the end of the year sign out. It seems too early for it to already be posted, although classes end on Tuesday. And though the second semester was actually longer than the first, it seemed much shorter. I guess that is what happens when you find yourself so busy. And yet I am still picking up more work and responsibility than I have ever dealt with before. I think that this semester was a good test of my ability…

As I sit in my dorm and think about the remaining time in the year I cannot believe it is all almost over. Soon I will have to empty my dorm room and lug all of its contents back to Braintree. However, I will be taking back more than my belongings. When I return home this summer I will bring a few of the lessons I have learned at school with me.        Academically, I have learned a lot from my first year at college. Sometimes getting sleep is not as important as getting school work done by the deadline. Time management would probably help eliminate having to lose sleep over school work …

With the end of the year coming to a close, there are many arrangements in place for planning next year. Housing applications and enrollment appointments have nearly come and gone. Although the remaining time in my freshman year is fleeting, it seems that there is still much to do. For this reason UMass seems to have lined up various events and activities to give the students a little something to look forward to. Now that the majority of students have been assigned housing, some of the stress has either disappeared or increased. If students were lucky enough to get the building of their …

The purpose of high school is to prepare students for college. Teachers begin cracking down on students, always telling them, "Your professors in college will not let you hand in work late." They give students more school work so when you get to college, adjusting to the workload will not be so challenging. Ultimately, the effort a student puts in is what determines the simplicity of the transition. Not only is it about the type of student you are, but also which college receives your deposit. I believe there is a reason that colleges and universities accept, waitlist and decline beyond just …

At college, finding a ride to your destination is not always easy. There are many ways of getting around on and off campus; everything from buses, cars, bikes, skateboards and foot power. Some methods of transportation work best depending on the day and time. During the week getting around to classes is usually accomplished by foot, which can be tiresome. Some places on campus take as much as a half an hour to get to. When lugging around a laptop and pile of books, the distance seems to be even greater. Buses are available during the week to cut down the time, but that also means being in …

Prior to college, I could never understand the concept of “the poor college student.” I did not know why they could not just get a job. Well, now I understand. It seems to be physically impossible to maintain a job while being a full-time college student. To those who have figured out the time management, hats off to you. As for the rest of us, although we may not have time for a job, we still have a need for money.Having money in college is a necessity. Not only do you need it to pay the tuition, housing and books, but it is also nice to have a little spending money. Despite the fact that my…

During a busy school week, it can be difficult to find time for writing. When the papers seem to be piling up and I have an extracurricular event every night, I cannot imagine where I will be able to fit in a little writing practice. I try to expose myself to all types of writing since I am not sure exactly what it is I want to use my writing for in the future. When I was younger, I had more of a creative knack for fictional short stories. I loved to write them for school or for recreation and seemed to always have ideas floating around my head. I also submitted several essays for writing …

When everyone continuously warns you that going to college in a relationship is a mistake, it is difficult to not let it get into your head. Even if it seems like it is the right thing to do, it is not uncommon to begin to doubt yourself. These statements definitely held true for myself as I began my freshman year with a boyfriend of two years. I knew that I had a few tough semesters ahead of me, but I was up for the challenge. Or so I thought. The end of the summer seemed to be the hardest part of the moving-away-to-college process. The goodbyes were brutal, as we were both nervous, yet …

The first time I went home was Columbus Day weekend. It was the most exciting feeling ever; to return to the comfort of my own home. I really learned to appreciate my parents and everything they do for me. For the first time, I noticed all of the little things that drove my mother insane. I helped cleaned the kitchen, took my shoes upstairs to my closet and emptied the wastebaskets. Why had I never noticed how much there was to be done prior to moving away to school? It was like college gave me new eyes. I was so appreciative when my parents had replacements and refills for anything I was out…

They say you need at least three activities for a well-rounded resume. However, as a first semester freshman, it can be intimidating to embark on the extracurricular search. It is even more difficult if you are neither athletic nor otherwise sports-oriented, like myself. The truth is, without clubs and activities, it is easy to drown in a big school. You can get lost in your studies and suddenly school becomes the most overwhelming part of your college experience. Sometimes you need an escape. Getting involved facilitates making friends and having fun during your free time. With so many …

“The dining hall food is gross. Unfortunately, for freshmen and sophomores, an oncampus meal plan is required.” I remember reading this student quote from a book about UMass. However, at the campus itself, the tour guides always raved about the food. I assumed they had to say that because it was their job. The truth is, at first, yes, the dining hall seems fantastic. A place where I don’t have to cook my own meals or clean up after myself is definitely appealing. However, the fascination wears off eventually. After a while, going to the dining commons becomes mundane.The smell is impossible …

If I do not pay the bill for spring right now, they are going to withdraw me from classes and housing by Sunday? a message from my friend Katie* read. She had no choice but to give in and move on. Unfortunately, this is a reality of college. The financial aspect does not always work out for everyone. For me, this meant that her roommate offered me Katie's side. Naturally, my response to this decision was very difficult to make. I was getting along with my current roommate just fine. I did not have friends on my floor, but I had friends in another building in my residential area. However, the …

"Get out of your room and make friends!" my parents told me on a Skype call during my first few days at school. As a freshman in college, there is a lot of pressure to be able to simply say hi to someone in your hall and then have the ability to jump right into a friendship and social life. However, since I attend such a large school, I could greet everyone I see and still probably never see them again. It's not as easy as it seems. The resident assistants advised my floormates and I to keep our doors open as much as possible during our first week on campus. It makes perfect sense at first, …

At home in Braintree, the trunks of our Ford Expedition and Honda Civic were overflowing with college necessities. The encouraging enthusiasm in my parent's voices desperately hoped to be contagious. I swallowed hard in an attempt to eliminate my parched throat. The stale, sweltering dry air stood still around me. Small beads of sweat began to form on the back of my neck. It was college move-in day. Six family members and I crammed into our already congested cars to begin the two-hour ride to Amherst. I was moving in earlier than most students for a one-credit course to introduce me to the …