Some see the time off from school during Winter Break as a time to rest and recover for the Spring semester ahead. Others may see it as a time to work on getting ahead of priorities that may be difficult to take care of when school rolls back around. As crazy as it may sound to say, it should be a mix of both relaxation and being “on your grind”. With over a month off from your typical academic workload, there are a variety of ways in which you can take advantage of the free time:

Start Applying for Career Opportunities

One of the biggest mistakes that many people make during their college career is not working towards “stacking” their resumes early on. To stack your resume means to make it stand out from the competition beyond just format and GPA; you need to show future companies you’d like to work for that you’re experienced in the field. Whether it be seeking out an internship, a co-op, an externship, or something similar, all take time and dedication towards fulfilling the requirements of each application. When I began applying for internships, I’d wait until my Winter Break rolled around, as I didn’t want the process of applying to interfere with my academics. Unfortunately I waited a bit later than most to begin seeking internships out, so now I find myself in a spot where I feel as if I’m having to “catch up” to my peers resume-wise. There’s no better time than when you’re on break to work on getting ahead; utilize your Winter Break to knock out those often-lengthy applications.

Find A Seasonal Job

It can be difficult to pay for school-related expenses while you’re balancing academics, social life, and the various other aspects of day-to-day college life. Winter Break provides a substantial amount of time for most college students to find seasonal work, which is great for those who would like to have cash to spend in the Spring without having to work during the semester. I’ve always found myself working during breaks to have money to cover my semesterly expenses, so that I don’t run into spending issues while trying to focus on school. Whether it be your local mall in need of extra employees for the holidays, or parents in your neighborhood in need of a sitter for their children, there’s always something to find.

Get Into A Workout Routine

Finding motivation to stay focused on fitness during the school year can be hard with all that life throws at you. Early morning classes, finding time for mid-day naps, and having to stay up late to cram for exams can really be demotivating for any kind of fitness plan. One of the best ways to keep yourself on track for staying fit is to establish a routine that works for you, and taking the time to find that routine over your Winter Break is definitely doable. Setting up a routine that works with your sleep schedule and takes into consideration your typical work schedule can be troubling when free time is limited. I’ve personally struggled with keeping up with my running routine almost every new semester, as I’ve come into semesters with bad sleeping habits that kept me from wanting to hit the gym, so instead I found myself taking naps instead of working on staying fit. Take time with the time you have off to see what works (and what doesn’t work) for you when it comes to having a good workout routine; your body will definitely thank you later on.

Establish A Solid Sleep Schedule

Similar to what was said in the previous paragraph, using the free time you have over Winter Break to set-up a good sleep schedule is key to finding success in your Spring semester. Aside from it helping with some of the issues related to workout motivation, it can really make a difference in your academic and social life. Studies have shown that sleep plays an important role in academic performance and how one functions during the day. Students who get five to seven hours of solid sleep a night meet the recommended amount of sleep time necessary for daily functioning, while those who operate on less are more likely to find themselves facing performance issues. Throughout my time in college, I’ve found that my peers who are consistent with their sleep schedules often see consistency in their grades as well. Personally, I’ve found my sleepless semesters to be my most academically disappointing semesters, even when the work isn’t overwhelming. It can be hard to get in the habit of putting yourself to bed and waking up at times that suit you best when the Spring semester rolls around, so Winter Break should definitely be the time to get in the habit of sleep wellness. 

Try New Things 

One of the more difficult things to do when you’re busy with school work during the semester is to try out new things. Whether it be attending a yoga class, learning a new skill, or attempting new recipes in the kitchen, there are a variety of activities that could enhance your time during college if you gave yourself the time to try them out, but getting starting can be tricky if you don’t come into the semester prepared. I personally found myself wanting to make every new semester of college better than any of the previous ones, so I’d commit myself to learning at least one or two new things each break. One time it was learning how to cook and how to be better at parallel parking, with the following break being for learning how to be better organized and more effective at writing papers. In doing so, I could walk into the following semester without the stress of trying something new and not having much free time to address any issues I encountered along the way. Winter break gives an amount of time for trial and error; don’t let the time slip by.

While Winter Break is what you ultimately make of it, often it’s the only time after the academic year has begun that you find yourself with an ample amount of free time. Whether you want it to be a time to kickback or a time to grind, make sure you do what’s necessary to be happy with the road ahead.

Entering any new environment can be a daunting task for many to embark on, and for countless individuals starting off their first year of college, survival mode begins as soon as they move into their dorm room. Being surrounded by primarily new people from a variety of backgrounds coupled with the pressure of putting yourself out there to make friends is no doubt a stressor to many, but it is a doable venture if one approaches it properly. From looking into what your campus has to offer to making your presence known where it should be, here are some of the ways in which you can ensure that you socially survive your freshman year of college.

Check Out Clubs

One of the best ways to get to meet new people and to find those that best mesh with your personality is to look into joining clubs that best suit your interests. GobblerFest is a once-a-semester event put on by the university where just about every campus organization comes out to showcase who they are and what they do. If you’re unable to attend GobblerFest, GobblerConnect, a website that highlights many of Tech’s events and organizations, is a great place to check out if you’re interested in adding some extracurricular involvements to your schedule. 

I can honestly say that one of my biggest regrets during my freshman & sophomore years at VT was not diversifying and expanding upon my extracurricular involvements. It wasn’t until my junior year that I started to branch out where I should have been involving myself, and at that point I felt as if I had waited too long. The earlier you start getting involved in activities/organizations that interest you, the better. Don’t feel pressured to rush into anything; it’s easy to lose sight of what you really want to get out of your time here in college when you compare yourself to what your peers are doing. Take the time to do a bit of researching and getting to know about any involvement before you commit yourself, but don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new.

Go Greek

Odds are you’ve heard of Greek life, oftentimes referred to as “fraternity and sorority life” at some point in your academic life. Many people tend to form opinions about this unique area of extracurricular involvement without truly getting to know the organizations and the people within them. Regardless of what you may have heard or assumed about Greek life, it is one of the larger offerings that just about every college campus has, with hundreds of thousands of college students across the country actively participating in. Thinking of joining? The best way to go about the process is to get to know the organizations, and have their members get to know you during the recruitment period, commonly known as “rush”. Check out the rush schedules on the organizations’ social media accounts, and look into which organizations are offered at your school.

Prior to coming to college, I had no interest in Greek life whatsoever, and I definitely didn’t want to join a fraternity. I had seen all the news reports and heard stories about fraternities, all of which made the whole system sound unappealing and not worth the time to me. For the first few years of college, I got by fine, I was going to parties and enjoying time with friends, but I felt that I could get more out of my time as an undergraduate by expanding my horizons. I eventually found a group of guys that I felt had similar interests with what I’m into, and I joined a fraternity. It opened doors for me socially and academically; I’ve been paired up with brothers that have been able to help me seek out internships, take on leadership roles, and various other activities that have helped me grow as a college student. Even if you don’t believe Greek life is your cup of tea, at least give it a chance by looking into it.

Get To Know The People In Your Hall & Classes

If you find yourself living in a residence hall your freshman year, don’t wait on the opportunity to get to know those who live around you. A timeless, almost guaranteed way to make long-term friendships in college is to branch out to those who live in your dorm hallway; the earlier the better. Additionally, the same rules go for your classes as well. Whether you have a class in-person or virtually, take the time to get to know the people in it with you. Beyond getting to know who they are, establish a connection with them beyond just knowing their name. Doing so could lead to opportunities down the road, such as making new friends and/or networking perks.

One of the things I did during my freshman year that has benefited me long-term was taking the time to get to know those who were in my hall. Many of the people I’ve kept in close contact with over the years have been those who I got to know during the first few months of my time in college, and having talked to other people outside of my friend group, I’ve heard many similar stories. Don’t delay on getting to know people when you go off to college, but don’t feel left out if you don’t find your crowd right away. 

Get Involved in Campus Activities

Wanting to be active in your university’s extracurricular offerings, but without the commitment/cost of typical options? Perhaps looking into helping out with campus activities would best suit your interests. It’s common for universities to have events and organizations that are of moderate to low commitment to be a part of, such as helping out with the school wellness center, yearbook committee, or running social media accounts. Committing to roles within campus organizations can be difficult when trying to balance academics and other involvements on top, but that doesn’t mean that you should limit yourself. Often there are ways you can be involved in campus activities short-term, without the need of fulfilling a continuous role within the host organization.

Reflecting on how I approached adding extracurricular activities to my already overwhelmed schedule during my first few years of college, I realize now that I was too apprehensive at spreading myself thin. While overextending yourself in any situation tends to be detrimental to your performance abilities, making an effort to test your boundaries and see what is/isn’t doable within your schedule can’t hurt in the short term. Additionally, seeking out ways to be involved in extracurriculars that work within the confines of your day to day life will surely help you find what is best for you.

Freshman year of all years that one spends in college is truly what you make of it. There may be some, “barriers” to living out that amazing college experience that you dreamt about back in high school, or perhaps you don’t find yourself to be the social butterfly that’s able to make friends right away. Regardless, the time to be putting in the legwork to ensure that the remainder of your undergrad years are enjoyable is now.