As the new term approaches, all students have the renewed opportunity to effect a profound change. According to my mom, you learn many things about yourself while training for a marathon. You learn about your own limits and expectations, and how to exceed them. In a sense, a college semester is comparable to a marathon. At the outset, each racer is full of energy and excitement.
Persistence is the fundamental component in both training for a marathon, and succeeding in college.
Aside from academic pressures, University students must cope with an often-confusing social atmosphere. This is particularly hard on first-year students who also must deal with the stress of living away from home for an extended period of time. Complaining about one's predicament never solves anything. Incoming first-year students are sure to hear and read many complaints and gripes over the course of the semester. There are many people on Grounds who believe they do not get a fair shake, or feel something here needs to be fixed.