Well, this is the last post of the school year, and my final post as editor of this blog. If anyone knows anything about me, it's that my time at UAB has been a blur of confusion and learning to figure my life out, and honestly, it's really a shame that it has taken me so long to do so. I imagine that I'm not the only one who suffers from chronic life crises, so here a few pearls of wisdom, some trivial and some more important, that I, along with the neuroscience class of 2017, want to share with the rest of the world.
- GO AFTER YOUR EDUCATION, NOT JUST THE DEGREE. Stop trying to rush through it all!!! It can be hard to not look at your undergraduate career as just a 4 year
block to get you to the finish line, but take a minute and embrace what you're learning. At least give it a shot, learning can be fun sometimes!
- PUT EFFORT INTO YOUR WORK. First and foremost, you're a student and you've been given a chance to go to a great school. Don't take that for granted.
- YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE EXPERT, and chances are, you're not. That's okay though! College is the time to learn new things. Being a successful student isn't about what you know, it's about how much you learn.
- TAKE A CLASS IN A SUBJECT UNRELATED TO YOUR MAJOR. Find at least one subject, topic of interest, whatever, and take it! Taking other subjects, and doing well in them, shows that you can be diverse. The experience might not be what you expected, but whether its good or bad, at least you did it.
- DON'T WASTE YOUR BREAKS! Volunteer, shadow some professionals, apply for internships! These opportunities beyond classwork look great on resumes, and they make for really good speaking points during interviews. Ultimately, you are going to get a job someday. They probably care less how well you did in class compared to how well you did during internships, research, etc. Working with professionals and getting your name out can also help with your applications.
- IT'S OKAY NOT TO TAKE THE SAME PATH YOU FEEL LIKE EVERYONE ELSE TOOK OR THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE. Don't be afraid to venture into uncharted territory by separating yourself from everyone else.That just means you're different. Do what you want to do! You'll find yourself working harder and being much happier doing it.
- TAKE BREAKS AND RELAX WITH FRIENDS. Don't lock
yourself in a room and think that all you need to do for four years is study. That's boring... and hard! Before you feel like you're getting overwhelmed, just stop and do something fun. Don't get burnt out when it's crunch time.
- YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH. Many people think going to the gym is all you need to stay healthy, but in college, taking care of your body is nothing compared to taking care of your mind. It affects how you approach your school work and how you see life. Like #5 said, hang out with some friends and do something fun. Also, take advantage of UAB's free counseling services if you need to!
- JOIN A STUDENT ORGANIZATION. It's a great way to find some time to relax. Find a group with a goal that you like, or people that you like. Many will have regular meetings, which will force you to leave work and do something meaningful to you.
- STUDY ABROAD or explore a unique opportunity. You may have this idea of what a "traditional" student does. Well, whatever that looks like to you, do something that they wouldn't or can't do. For many, it's studying abroad, but living and going to school in a different setting is a once in a lifetime experience.
- EXPLORE BIRMINGHAM! Don't take this beautiful city for granted. It's on the up-and-up, and you're here for all of it. Many people come to UAB for its opportunities, but a number of those are outside of UAB and in the city of Birmingham. Go find them! You can't enjoy the city you're living in, or the school that you're going to, if you don't go out and explore it.
- THE BEST TIME TO GO TO THE COMMONS IS DURING BREAKFAST AND FRIED CHICKEN THURSDAYS. The Commons has gotten more consistent throughout the years, but there are still some days that are better than others. If you want to make sure you're going to get at least a decent meal at the Commons, go during breakfast (especially on the weekends) and on Thursday evenings, when they usually have good chicken and, sometimes, french toast.
- BEWARE OF THE BIRDS BY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. The sign has disappeared, but the birds have not. Trust us...
- ALWAYS CHECK YOUR EMAIL! Seriously... please. Connect it to your phone if you need to. You may think there are too many unimportant emails, but the best opportunities come through there. Read the emails and respond when you can, it makes life so much easier for everyone. The worst thing is missing an important email.
- TALK TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN. Don't forget that college will be the most important networking opportunity of your life. A large part of opportunities outside of school can come from who you know. Talk to your professors and peers, even if you don't think you need them because you never know what they can offer you, or what you can offer them.
- ASK QUESTIONS! Questions are the key to a successful life... kind of. It is the best way to learn anything and everything you want. It's also the best way to build relationships. It seems like a no brainer, but you'd be surprised. As a student, you may think that your accomplishments are what are going to get you noticed, but telling everyone how great you are isn't going to show them that you're interested in what they have to say. It's definitely not going to get you that friendship, research opportunity, rec letter, etc.
- IT'S OKAY TO GET LOST! No one is supposed to have things figured out, and most people don't. That being said, you have more time than you think. You want to find what you want to do, and what you like to do. If that means taking an extra year, take it. You won't be the only one in that boat.
And that's it for me! Thanks to anyone who sent in some of your trade secrets for navigating the inner workings of undergraduate life at UAB, and thanks to everyone who read the blog this past year. It's been fun. Be on the look out for awesome things next semester with the new editor! ~ Celeste
