Top 3 Tips Every College Student Should Know
Written By: Ava Stevens
Navigating your first year of college can be stressful. Finding a major you want to pursue, balancing school and social life, and dealing with homesickness can be a heavy load. It can be hard to fully immerse yourself in your field of study when you are trying to juggle many other things. So, as you enter your second semester, finding yourself with more time on your hands, there are three key tools that have made my journey to a public relations degree feel easier.
Networking is your best friend. While you may not realize it in the moment, everyone you interact with is an opportunity to build a connection. Peers, professors and guest speakers are great examples of valuable relationships that could be helpful in the future. Taking note of contact information, such as an email or LinkedIn profile, is a great step to forming a connection. Networking is like a big web – the people you connect with have their own network that they can connect you to. You will thank yourself when it comes time to finding a summer internship, a job after college or general guidance.
Get involved! Joining clubs and organizations is an excellent way to meet new people and expand your résumé. While adding a club to your agenda may seem intimidating, there are options that provide minimal commitment. Clubs also allow you to take a break from your typical routine and experience something new. While there are clubs for almost everything, I recommend joining ones that relate to your major. They allow you to apply your skills outside the classroom and dive deeper into the work you may pursue after college.
It’s OK to have no idea what you want to do after college. Questions such as “What do you want to do with a communications degree?” and “What are your plans after graduation?” can make you spiral. However, it is OK not to have an answer right now. With a broad and evolving field like public relations, there are so many directions you can go and so many new opportunities that are becoming available. Over your time at college, you will take classes that introduce you to opportunities you were not familiar with, and you will begin to learn which parts of the field you do and do not enjoy.
Hopefully these tips alleviate some of the pressure you feel as you search for impactful ways to enhance your college experience. You are in one of the most transformative periods of your life, so remember that standing out is a privilege, and your success is subjective.
Comments