Dear Future College Student:

Welcome to college! You made it. You are finally done with high school
and you are ready for a new stage in your life, it is not going to be easy, but
it is possible. Like you, I found myself in the same situation. This is my first
semester in college and I want to share with you some experiences and
strategies that helped me overcome the fear and anxiety that I had, but
especially made me succeed this course.
One of the first strategies that I learned was to set up goals. In high
school you get to do those types of homework and sometimes we just do it,
without realizing how important it is. You have to ask yourself what a goal is.
I had to do my own concept of goals and I came up with the idea that is
something your possibilities allows you to do. They need to be realistic,
specific, have a time frame, and you need a real dedicated mind to reach the
goal. Time frame is very important for setting goals, so you know when are
you going to achieve them, instead of your setting your goal with no time
frame. There are short, medium and long term goals, good thing is that
you dont have to apply them just for this course. Doing goals is going to
help you physically, healthy, religiously and in many other aspects of your
life. Setting Goals this semester, opened my eyes, to see something else and
to know the biggest purpose for me, which is to be a nutritionist.
I also learned strategies on how to motivate me, sit down and
start studying. That is going to be one of the hardest thing youre going to

have to learn. We all have different methods to study.

I used to do my

homework while I was watching TV or listening to music with lyrics,

procrastinating my homework, reading assignments and hanging out. When I
started college, I felt overwhelmed with all the classes and homework I
needed to do, and beside of that I had to go to work after school. Im very
thankful that I decided to take this course, because I learned strategies on
how to do my house a study place. I started out choosing a place where I
could associate studying, I learned how to bond with my bedroom. I have a
desk in my bedroom, on my desk I have everything I need, paper, pens,
calculator, laptop, good light and instrumental music instead of music with
lyrics. I also learned how to leave my phone alone and to do a schedule for
each class, which means I stopped procrastinating and taking advantage of
my time.
During college you are going to have to read a lot. Sometimes we look
for classes that dont require too much reading, but reading makes you a
better critical thinker. Reading can be tired sometimes especially if you dont
have a special place or schedule to do it. I learned that sometimes, it is hard
to get in your head all the information that you read, and we are humans, so
it is normal to forget some details in your reading, that is why knowing how
to read its important. Using the SQ3R [Survey, Questions/Taking Notes,
Read, Review Recite] is very helpful. If you follow that process correctly,
especially taking notes, you are going to find yourself reading more
efficiently and you get used to the process as well, it takes time but you are

going to make it. If you feel like you cant take it anymore, it is always helpful
to take a break. You can take around 5-10 minutes to stretch out, drink some
water or get a snack. Those are things that are going to help your brain to
recover itself and keep going with the task.
My last advice, would be how to overcome with test anxiety. We all
have had it, and it is the worst thing that could happen in the beginning,
middle or even at finishing an exam. There are some strategies that should
help. The first thing that you need to take care of is your body. You should get
good sleep a night before, eating a good meal the day of the exam and have
everything reading such as a calculator if its a math exam, pen, pencil etc. If
you have a mental block, making a list alphabetically about anything for 20
seconds should help to overcome it and compose yourself. Focus on your
exam and be confident of what you know and what you study, there is
nothing to fear if you are prepared.
Im so excited of studying in college and I hope my advices been
helpful to you and that you enjoy your ride in college. I wish you nothing but
success in college.