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I was moderating a panel recently that was meant to give high school students advice before they go off to college. Almost all of the panelists gave tips that boiled down to, “Don’t worry.” 

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Why are they ignoring the signs? The answer: They’re not. They just don’t know where to turn. We need to make help more accessible.

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Seeing free stuff given by generous people in the hallways (be it food, shirts, coffee) during midterm or final exams week.

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How can you make your dorm a peaceful retreat from the rigors of academia?

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1. Unplug. But actually. You know to switch off the lights when you leave your dorm room, but there are other surprising ways to save energy.

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They keep stressing that the syllabus could change at any time and that you should check blackboard for updates. Usually means they just threw together a syllabus to appease their department head and knows they won’t be able to actually follow it.

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One day, one grade, one assignment, one mistake – does not define you.

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Then, you will want to change again.

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Being the other woman.

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Don’t beat yourself up over small things. Try not complain or compare yourself. And get comfortable being uncomfortable. Going outside your comfort zone will always pay off somehow, so don’t live your life with regrets.