"Dear Freshmen:" Tips from the Pacer Times staff

Freshman year of college can be exciting, fun, stressful and confusing. New experiences, information and growth is to be expected — and it can be overwhelming. You made it this far — and congratulations on this huge achievement! — but don’t forget to establish a support system.

As you start this new journey into college, here are a few tips from members of the Pacer Times Staff.

Reporter Taylor Herndon said: “Welcome back to a fresh new school year! Remember, it is okay to take a step back and relax. Overworking yourself will create more problems in the long run.“

Lead Reporter and Co-News Editor Erin Weeks said: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions or to not know something - college is a whole new world at first and it’s perfectly okay to not know exactly what you’re doing.”

Editor-in-Chief Noelle Kriegel advises: “Make sure you have a relationship with your professors and advisers. Be the student that is always emailing, visiting office hours and asking questions. Once you get over the initial hesitance or embarrassment, you’ll find that your presence is welcomed and your effort is appreciated. You have time to figure yourself out, don’t sacrifice yourself for academics: You have to take care of you for the rest of your life, college is just a part of it.”

My tip to the freshman is: “Find a balance. School can be overwhelming. New friends, experiences, assignments, lectures and everything else that gets thrown at you. Find time to relax and recenter yourself.”