Articles of the Month

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Okay, a lot of you are going to be heading out there into the "real-world" as you graduate and go on to bigger and better things. That given, many of you will be making your choice to go to University which means this quote could be applying to you "As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools." All joking aside, it will be one of the most amazing experiences ever. It will especially be a time of growing and learning not just in a scholastic realm. Every facet of your life will be changed by simply deciding to 'sign-up' because 'Your University Wants You'.

From my first-semester experience one of the biggest mistakes ever was to not realize the amount of change in workload that I had to deal with in the adaptation from high-school. I actually had to read textbooks now. And these weren't textbooks that were signed out to me at the beginning of class; these were textbooks that cost $200 each! On that subject, don't make the mistake of buying all of your textbooks new from the bookstore. Check to see if your university has a used book sale through the student union and explore any and all means to avoid having to pay full price for textbooks. The best case scenario is finding an older friend who has already taken the class and can help you out.

Another big thing to realize is that talking to people is not a bad thing.

One of your biggest allies will be those who have come before you and can help you make it through that all important, and very tough first semester. At the very least, go check out your student union and the resources that they have to offer. (ex. University of Regina Student Union - http://ursu.uregina.ca/) Many have orientation classes that have topics that deal with things like exam stress, note taking, and balancing school and leisure. Many also have an exam registry where you can check out some old exams from your professors. Although it may be a little daunting, do your best to connect and make the extra effort to network with people in your faculty and develop a good group of friends to help you succeed. The main thing to remember is that you can do it.

Although the first semester has the possibility to be a little rough, it doesn't have to be; and however melodramatic this sounds remember--whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.