The first day of school will be here before you know it. Prepare yourself for the first day of the school year with this handy survival guide, and that initial day will be a piece of cake.
Memorize your schedule (and keep a copy in your pocket).
All of the numbers and unfamiliar names will probably confuse you, and if you’re in college, there’s usually more than one building to worry about! Read over your schedule a few times, and if possible, do a dry run and visit each of your classrooms beforehand to familiarize yourself with the locations. But still print off a copy and keep it with you as a backup.
Eat breakfast.
You generally want to aim to eat a nutritious breakfast every day, but since it’s the first day of classes, eat something filled with protein - chow down on some eggs, avocado toast, or a smoothie to keep your brain in tip-top shape.
Pack a delicious, healthy lunch.
Forget the processed, cheap mystery meat at the school cafeteria and bring your own lunch, like a grilled chicken caesar salad, turkey wrap, or leftovers from yesterday’s dinner. If you’re lucky enough to have an open campus or fast food on campus, feel free to indulge sometimes, but not every day.
Figure out your friend’s schedules.
If one or two of your friends have a break/same lunch period as you, you automatically have a buddy (or buddies) to eat with, which will give you something to look forward to during those boring morning classes. You can also see if you guys have any of the same classes, so if one of you has to miss a day, you can exchange notes and not fall behind.
Make new friends.
You’ll no doubt see some unfamiliar faces in your classes, so getting to know some of them can make your classes more bearable. Especially if it’s a science class with a lab component, if you become acquainted with some people, picking lab partners will be much easier and less awkward.
Prepare your supplies the night before.
As excited as I’m sure you are about jumping out of bed to start yet another school year, who wants to pass up a few more minutes of sleep? You can hit the snooze button a few times if you plan ahead and pack all of your textbooks, notebooks, and pencils the night before.
Buy a planner.
Because how many times have you told yourself, “I don’t need to write this down; I’ll remember it,” and then didn’t? You don’t ever have to experience that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach again for forgetting about a test if you actually write down your assignments.
Get to know your teachers.
You may have some repeat teachers/professors, which is great! Or, they may all be new to you. Regardless, you should try to develop a cordial, professional relationship with your instructor. It can come in handy if you need extra homework help, tutoring, or if you just need someone to talk to about your future.
