Welcome home, Tigers. School is officially in session. I may only be a sophomore but I have lived many lives during my time at LSU. Spoiler alert. I’ve failed most of those lives.
College is hard for everyone. For most people it’s easier in some ways and harder in others. However, you’ll always meet the occasional blessed individual who seemingly holds the whole weight of the world on their shoulders with a joyous smile. For others, like perhaps… me, everything about college is hard.
Every moment is an uphill battle. Except the hill is an active volcano, the battle is like rolling a ball of used needles and the path is molten lava. Not joking.
Specifically, freshman year is extremely hard because so much is different. You’re adjusting to life away from home (even if you’re not particularly fond of home). You’re getting used to an entirely different academic setting. You’re making new friends and losing old ones. You get the gist.
I did all of those things and more. It sucked. My mental health tanked and I wasn’t “locked in” as the kids say, aKa my grades sucked. My grades were so bad that I had several CATS holds and even had to appeal to my college to remain in my major.
Suffice to say, I was very successful at failing.
I struggled to find motivation to complete my work, and I fell into the trap of trying to make friends in quantity over quality. I tried to impress that expanding list of friends, which made it even more difficult to focus and muster up the energy to begin my schoolwork. Let alone really take care of myself.
But fear not, I’ve learned these lessons the hard way so you don’t have to.
First, you are at a university to graduate. Be mindful of that. It took me many frustrations for that to sink in.
When it comes to your grades they are paramount. They don’t have to be all A’s, but at least try to pass. If you feel like you aren’t properly equipped to handle a class say something! So much grief and embarrassment can be saved by just asking for help. People at LSU are literally paid to help you, and if you talk to someone and it’s not particularly helpful, then keep talking to people until something works.
There’s nothing wrong with withdrawing from a class if you truly have no hope left. However, make sure to go into your Moodle and calculate the scores you need to make to remain in good academic standing before making any potentially rash decisions.
“But Garrett, school isn’t only about getting good grades. It’s about the experience too,” I hear you say. Duh. Which brings me to my next bit of advice: have fun.
Yes, you are a student, and yes, your grades are incredibly important. But burnout is very real, and it brings students who are much older and wiser to their knees. So remember to test your limits, but also break out of your comfort zone.
However, if something seems like an objectively bad idea, maybe wait a bit and really think about it before you choose to act on it. This is especially important if it involves substances.
Yes, LSU is a bit of a party school (even though most colleges are party schools). But that doesn’t mean you should allow the allure of a good time to damage your shining future.
My absolute best advice I can give to you is so simple and effective it’s gonna make this article’s length seem like a waste of ink. The best advice to ever exist for any college student to ask questions.
Email, call, email, call, meet in-person and then email and call again for good measure. Do not leave a shadow of a doubt about anything, especially if you’re on any form of probation or have any holds on your student account.
Remember to prioritize your schooling whilst not losing yourself to academic hellfire (burnout). You can make it, and you can thrive with a smile on your face if you remember to ask for help.
Wishing you all (and myself) a banger of a year, and to everyone in my boat: the ones recovering from bad choices they made last year, we’ve got this. Probably…?
Garrett McEntee is an 19-year-old English sophomore from Benton.
