Settling in for a New Term

After 6 long weeks of winter break, it’s actually really nice to be back on campus. I get to see old friends, start new classes and experience snow (which is big for a girl from California!). But every term I struggle with getting back into the Carleton rhythm.  So, as someone who came back for their 7th on-campus term just last week, here are some of my tips for making that transition a little bit easer. 

 Pack Only What You Need

As a maximalist, I definitely suffer from packing too much for each term. I’ve tried to remedy this by only packing clothes for the next season and trying to remember what I already have stored in my room (for shorter breaks, ResLife locks your room, so you can keep your things safe in there). For this term, I brought my scarf and hat from home and definitely left some of my warmer weather clothes at home.

Meet up with friends

After you unpack, you will almost undoubtedly have a moment where you forget what to do with yourself. This is why I always schedule friend meals and hangouts right before the term starts. Everyone is chill and not stressed out about classes yet, and it can be a great way to reconnect with your campus support system before classes start.

Organize Before the First Day

Whether this entails a trip to the bookstore for your new classes (which is usually required for most classes) or updating your google calendar, getting a solid handle on what you need to do before the term starts will help the first day feel less overwhelming. Most of my classes don’t assign work before the first day, but I like to read over the syllabus and make sure I know where each class is. 

Sit back, relax and take a deep breath

Starting a new term can be overwhelming, but if you can relax for a moment and trust that you will figure everything out in due time, it can make a big difference. This is easier said than done, but I like walking around campus and re-familiarizing myself with my favorite spots. Since this is harder to do in the winter, I also like to get back in the habit of doing things I love, such as watching movies with friends or painting my nails. Even one small moment of joy can help with the overwhelm and make everything seem easier to manage.

Kate (she/her) is a junior History  and Theater double major from the Bay Area, California. She loves Carleton’s artsy community, and is involved in the Vocal Studies Program and occasionally the Experimental Theater Board when her fight choreography skills are in high demand. Kate’s favorite places on campus are the practice rooms, either in Myers or the Weitz, where she can sing or play the ukulele. She loves the campus during all the seasons but thinks nothing could compare to the beautiful colors of Northfield in the fall. When not in class, you can find Kate either petting the nearest cat or forcing her friends to watch bad movies in a study room.