Now, I am not the one to give unsolicited advice or tell people what to do, so please feel free to just skip this last page of the paper and anxiously await our grand finale of issue 12, coming out in just under a month.

Okay, so you’re still here? Thank you for being honest with yourself and with me about your Sunday scaries and weekly mental breakdowns. 

Let’s face it: we’ve all spent hours on a Saturday crying in Milliken while we were putting the finishing touches on Dr. Grinnell’s paper only to drop the class a week later. Nope? Just me? Awkward…

Either way, whether it be an English essay, biology lab report, or a simple, I mean well-respected, philosophy assignment, we’ve all had the moment where we waited just a little too long to start something and are left wondering: how in the world did I get here? 

Well, I am here to give you some advice on how NOT to get there. 

I am, obviously, editor-in-chief of the student paper, but that is not my only responsibility on this campus. Being a Bonner Scholar, adult education tutor, Kappa Alpha Theta member and Office of Marketing and Communications intern, I would be lying if I said that I didn’t feel a tad overwhelmed at times. 

Am I capable of fulfilling all of my commitments with quality work? Absolutely. Are you capable of doing the same for all of your commitments? Also, absolutely. Because, let’s face it, we go to Wofford, so I am far from being the only overachiever on campus. 

Even with all of these extra side dishes on our plate, we still need to save room for the main course: our classes. 

Because of this, I find that the number one way to ensure adequate time management at Wofford is to always put academics first. I say this because, whether it be one of those resume-building extracurricular activities, a night at the row or a fun trip to Burrito Hub with friends, there will always be something to take you away from your academics and drag you into the abyss. Don’t fall for it! 

Always set aside time to attend all classes, even if attendance is optional, and adequate time to complete the assignments that accompany them. I know that with this mid to end semester burnout, this is a lot more difficult than it sounds, but we have to remember the reason that we are here: the degree. 

These four years will be the best of our lives, but that can’t be true if we all flunk out. So, while having fun and building relationships with your peers is important, it’s way more important to do well academically. 

After all of your schoolwork is complete, then you can focus on the extracurriculars that you’ve signed up for. Because those Greek letters and internships do not define you, but, at this moment in your life, your ability to pass your classes does. Now, I am absolutely not saying that this has to be with a 4.0, but it can’t be with a 0.5. 

Finally, after you’ve fulfilled all of your commitments, then please go hang out with friends and make some of the worst memories and the best mistakes that your children and grandchildren will laugh at for generations to come. 

Also know that it’s okay to not be okay. I know that there is this aura of perfection around Wofford, but I guarantee that if you talk to the sorority girl who sits next to you in Bio who seems to have her life together, she doesn’t. I can also guarantee you that the football player in your history class doesn’t either. 

We are all equally okay and not okay, and that is okay. Life is full of ups and downs, and it’s amazing that we are able to build this community at Wofford to ride the roller coaster together. 

So, please go do your homework and let’s fight this end of the year slump together.