Life lessons learned

With the beginning of the spring semester, most students may feel much older and wiser than they did in August. For those students who are new this semester, or the students who slept through the first few months of school, the Ram Page staff would like to share what we personally learned, in hopes that it will save you some trouble in the new year.

First of all, students should get a planner. In our opinion, an electronic planner won't help unless an alarm is going off every time an assignment is due. Even for students who rarely miss important appointments, tiny slip-ups can cost you. We also know that keeping planners doesn't necessarily mean things will get done on time. Procrastination is not the answer. With the exception of those students who thrive on 2 a.m. cram sessions for tests, dividing and conquering projects is usually the best way to get a satisfying grade while remaining as stress-free as possible. Additionally, distractions can be powerful inhibitors. Students should manage time wisely. If you want to spend an hour on a paper and then have a 10-minute break, devote your attention completely to the assignment. It's best to stay away from social networking sites until your break.

Another bad habit students get into is not giving themselves time to get to class, whether they're leaving a house, apartment or dorm. With ASU's limited availability of parking spaces, most students will have to get to campus 10 to 15 minutes earlier than they normally would. With this time, they can either wait for a parking space patiently or park on the other side of campus and still have time to walk to class. No matter how long students have griped about parking, it doesn't look like there will be any immediate solution. We're simply going to have to wake up earlier and come to campus sooner. When students find parking spots, many do not want to leave to get food. Students who live off campus, but spend most of their day on campus, rarely think to brown-bag it and end up paying for expensive fast-food, or unsatisfying food from the vending machine. This can hurt both resolutions to stay fit and save money.

This next piece of advice has been drilled into most students since the time they had 8 o'clock bedtimes: Don't stay up so late that you can't function the next day. Students may be in subconscious rebellions against their parents, but at this point, the fight is futile. Too many academic and health risks are involved in this undertaking to prove independence. Bow out of the fight and get to bed at a reasonable time.

For those students who buy textbooks on campus, we encourage you to wait a few days before opening the packaging, to find out if you really need them. Within an allotted time, you can take them back to the bookstore for a full refund. This knowledge will hopefully alleviate some of the pain you feel when you sign that sales receipt the first weekend here.

Keep hitting the books hard all the way through the semester. Just because you have an A doesn't mean you can let up on the studying because your grades will suffer. You only get grades worth the effort you put in, and As are easier to lose than to gain.

We also believe that it is important to check your email multiple times a day. For the most part, if a professor sends you a message before class, whether it is an hour before or three days before, he or she expects it to be read. Missing messages can result in missed assignments, or even your showing up to a cancelled class.

Try to stay active. If you normally walk to class, don't start driving because you're tired. If you work out every night, try to stay in that routine. In college, things can get crazy, but your personal health should always stay a priority.

We hope that the things students learned in the fall will make for an easier spring semester. College classes aren't the only things that prepare us for life, and we appreciate life's little lessons.