Off The Yak: In College

   First things first (I'm the realest), I apologize to anyone who comes to my blog and expects to find every post be about kayaking.  I realize that nowadays each entry gets a little further away from that and becomes more centered about my schooling.  But my readers need to realize that I am not back on the yak as much as I would like to be.  Last year it was my reality because it was what I had time for.  Now, school is my reality.  I've traded my paddle for a paper.  It's harsh and I wish it weren't true, but unfortunately we can't always get what we want.  But I will make this promise to you: For every lousy post about college, I will post two about a previous kayaking excursion.  How is that? I hope that is sufficient enough.  Don't fret and don't leave me.  More is to come.  Announcements to be made.  Each day that goes by is one day closer to warmer weather.  The kayaks will come out of storage soon enough.  I promise.

   Now, to business.  I realize that I have only been in college for two months, but I pay attention and stay aware so I have already concocted a list of tips that up and coming collegians should have under their hat:

• Cover the walls
• Go to Target, buy a fair share of Command hooks (buy the ones that can hold a hefty amount of weight, 3lbs) Bring pictures, paintings, posters, anything.  Buy a cheap chalkboard decal, stick some on the wall or on the door to draw pictures or leave notes for your roommate.  Hang a bulletin board, dry erase board, a calendar.  Every space you cover makes your room more and more homey.  If you have your own bathroom, bring pieces to hang up in there.  Have some things by the door and by the vanity.  Any wall space is an opportunity.
• Take out the trash
• Do not wait until you are playing a game of Jenga with the trash.  The trashcan will win, and you will have a monstrosity of a mess to clean up.  Once a week.  It's easy.  You leave for class 7 minutes earlier and bring the bag with you.  
• Stay on top of everything
• Homework is a given.  You get an assignment on Monday.  "But it's not due until Wednesday."  No.  Do it Monday night.  Do not wait until 10 o'clock on Tuesday night to do it.  Something could go wrong, the printer could decide to throw a fit, you may not understand something, you may have something else you really want to get to.  
• Plan ahead, at least a little
• Dish out time accordingly.  The other night I had a club meeting to go to.  I looked on their Facebook page to find that they would be watching a movie.  How fun!! I love movies!  Unfortunately I had a huge history exam the following morning.  I couldn't justify going to see a film when I had studying to do.  If the meeting had been a discussion or planning an event, I would have gone.  But it was actually the perfect meeting to skip.  You can't be too prepared for anything, especially a test.  And there is no worse feeling than that sinking feeling of I shouldn't have done.. I should have studied.
• Read
• Instead of watching TV in between classes, read a book.  You feel much more productive and satisfied afterwards, plus it gives much more knowledge than any TV program.  Reading is a skill, you get better with practice.  Each time you read you get a little faster and you retain a little more, which is a wonderful tool to have in college.
• Go to the cafeteria for food
• It's free, it's hot, it's not all bad, and someone else makes it.  While having a few snacks in the room is nice, don't waste all your money on instant food when you have a plethora of food you are already paying for waiting for you in the Union. 
• Don't just stock up on cookies.  Visit the salad bar, get some chick peas, load up your plate with strawberries.
• Attend class
• I know it's tempting.  Believe me.  You're all snuggled up and cozy in your warm bed, the last thing you want to do is walk across campus in 20 degree weather to your 9 am class.  But go anyway.  Most classes have an attendance policy and you are only given so many days to miss before your grade is lowered.  Don't say, "Screw this, I got 4 more days I can miss.  I'm sleeping in."  No.  Go to class.  Save those days for when you are sick or it's the last couple weeks of school and you were up all night tweaking a paper.  
• Also, teachers love to give random attendance quizzes.  One day in my psychology class, about 18 out of 200 people showed up.  My professor smiled at us and said, "This looks like a great day to take role."  
• You don't need Starbucks everyday
• It's right there, you pass it everyday, and the line is so short right now!  I get it.  But your wallet does not.  And after three or four weeks when all you have is spare change, was it all really worth it?  Last night I asked my roommate if she wanted to go to Chick-fil-A with me, she sighed and said she couldn't because she had already spent all 275 dollars worth of her Bonus Bucks (if you have a meal plan, it normally includes something like this to spend at restaurants on campus).  I was shocked, "HOW?"  She laughed and said that after her English class she always goes to Starbucks and gets a venti ice tea. sigh
• Don't be afraid to switch roommates
• She's a slob, she's rude, and she snores.  No hard feelings.  Go to your RA and tell her.  This is about you.  Your dorm room should be a sanctuary of sorts, it should be comforting.  If your roommate is scary or you dread seeing her in the room when you get back, that's not good.  Be with someone who is comforting, or at least doesn't sleep in your bed when you're gone.
• Start a long lasting relationship with water
• Buy a case for your room each month.  Carry one in your backpack at all times.  Trade in your Sprite for it at lunch.  Always have one with you in class.  
• Go to the gym
• People, it's free.  You're paying to be there, the gym is at your disposal.  And it's so nice!  Just go for a little bit.  Take a Zumba class! Or yoga! Or CrossFit!  It's FREE!  When you're an adult, you'll be wishing you had a free gym right down the street from you.
• Don't buy a printer
• It only costs 5 cents a page to print.  Let's say you buy a printer that costs 35 dollars.  Just for the printer to pay for itself, you would need to print over 700 sheets.  That's just to cover the cost of the printer.  What about paper? And INK?  Ink is the most ridiculously overpriced item on the market.  I don't know what you're printing, but I can take a guess and say that it's not more than 700 pages.  I know having a printer in your room is convenient, but it is so not worth it.