Heading Off To College
You're on your way to becoming an adult. Soon you'll be going to college with even more freedom to make your own decisions about life than ever before. You're going to try new things, meet new people, and experience a new freedom away from your parents' rules and curfews. As you get closer to the end of high school and prepare to move into a new stage of life, your maturity and freedom of choices increases but so can the pressure and stress of all this increased responsibility and freedom.
Remember that with this new freedom comes responsibility. Your parents won't be there to write you a sick note
if you don't make it to class. It will be up to you to figure out which classes to select, who to hangout with, what time to wake up, how to spend your money, whether or not to drink or do drugs, and what to do if you make mistakes.
You’ll be faced with some tough decisions and will need to prioritize what's really important to you. College is a taste of freedom and fun - it's also the starting point to your future as an adult, a world in which there
are consequences that come along with life's freedoms. So have fun but take this next phase of your life seriously. It's your life!
Here are some things you might need to know BEFORE you pack your bags and head for school.
Tips For Managing Your Time Now & In College
Once you're in college you're going to have a lot more responsibilities than you do now. Not only are you going to have more tests and assignments than ever before but you still have to find time to do your own laundry, make new friends, and make it to class on time. You'll need to manage your time even better than you do in high school.
- Get a calendar and USE it - starting with dates and study sessions for SATs, tracking application deadlines, etc. This will be your most valuable tool to keep you on track and the sooner you learn how to plan now, the more ahead of the game you'll be in college when the work starts to pile up.
- Break the application process into smaller pieces, giving yourself deadlines for each will help you stay on top of each piece.
- Participate in extra curricular activities but make sure they don't start to interfere too much with your schoolwork. Colleges want well-rounded admissions candidates, and that means academics too.
- Learn to Prioritize. Calculate roughly how many hours you think each homework assignment will take. Practically everything takes longer than you think it will, so build in extra time from the start, and you'll have plenty of time to complete your work.
- Learn to say "No." Because your time is so precious, you can't take on every opportunity or do every favor that's asked of you. If someone asks you to do something you don't want to do, simply look at your calendar. You don't have to feel guilty. Just say, "No, I'm so sorry, but I can't help you [insert whatever]. I have to [insert your other obligation here.]"
- Plan to have fun. It's important to enjoy yourself on a regular basis in order to keep your mind clear for the academic stuff. So look on your school's website for schedules of sports and other events, and write them in on your calendar.
- Maximize the little chunks of down-time. Be sure to always have one of your books from class with you, so you can read during slow periods at work, while you're on a bus or train, or in between classes.
- At the end of each day, reward yourself for the work you've done. Giving yourself incentives such as "If I read two chapters of philosophy, then I'll break to watch a movie at 11" will help you make sure you get your work done.
- Recognize your limits. No one can do everything
- Choose the right study environment. Maybe it's the library, maybe it's a local coffee shop that will let you hang out as long as you buy one double grande mocha latte. Wherever it is, make sure there are few distractions so you can concentrate. Don't choose a place where you'll run into people you know, and don't study in bed- you'll end up taking too many breaks or you'll fall asleep.
Don’t forget to sleep. And eat well. If you don’t have rest and energy, then you won’t be able to do everything else that needs to get done.
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Making The Most Of The Campus Visit
Many schools provide tours which are a good opportunity to ask questions about activities the school and the community provides for those under 21. Visit the coffee shops, lounges, and other places where students hang out. Don't be afraid to pipe up and ask your tour guide or other students you meet about what they do when they are not in class, where they hang out, etc. Most students on campus are more than happy to oblige. They will likely paint the truest picture of the school environment with regard to the social culture on campus. Most communities that have a large
number of college students offer a wide array of student discounts from restaurants to movies or concerts.
Use the campus visit to get acquainted with campus surroundings (not just the party scene). In addition to the many clubs and activities a university may offer, look for message boards, kiosks, or flyers to find out what's going on around town. "At any orientation for perspective students we want to make sure we spend time telling students what they can do off-campus," says Todd Hoffman, president of Collegia, a company that tries to connect students with city-based, off-campus events. "College is a lot more than studying and partying," says Hoffman.
So when on that campus tour, sign up for school activities, pick up a local newspaper or city guide book, and find what else is out there beyond the bars and house parties. If all else fails, every city has a Web site that lists town events.
Think an overnight stay at your college of choice will be filled with campus tours and free t-shirts?
Mostly it will be. You'll may also have the chance to get a small
taste of what college will be like; academically and
socially. You may get to sit in on a class, eat at the local
hangout, go to a campus party, or attend a school football game
and cheer on the team. But you may also be exposed to
drinking and drug use. It's important to think about how you might
handle situations where you might be faced with making decisions
that could put you at risk. Remember, you're visiting campus
to get a sense of whether or not the school is right for you.
You're not a student yet and things you do on your visit could
impact your future college career.
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What Is Alcohol Poisoning?
Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing and the gag reflex (which prevents choking). A fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop these functions.
It is common for someone who drank too much alcohol to vomit, since alcohol is an irritant to the stomach. This means the person could choke on
his or her vomit, which could cause death by asphyxiation in an unconscious person.
A person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can continue to rise even while he or she is passed out. Even after a person stops drinking, alcohol in the stomach and intestine continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body. It is dangerous to assume the person will be fine by sleeping it off.
Critical Signs of Alcohol Poisoning
- Mental confusion, stupor, coma, or person cannot be roused.
- Vomiting.
- Seizures.
- Slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths per minute).
- Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths).
- Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness.
What if I Think Someone has Alcohol Poisoning?
- Know the danger signals.
- Do not wait for all symptoms to be present.
- Be aware that a person who has passed out may die.
- If there is any suspicion of an alcohol overdose, call 911 for help. Don't try to guess the level of drunkenness.
What if Alcohol Poisoning is Left Untreated?
- Victim chokes on his or her own vomit.
- Breathing slows, becomes irregular, or stops.
- Heart beats irregularly or stops.
- Hypothermia (low body temperature).
- Hypoglycemia (too little blood sugar) leads to seizures.
- Untreated severe dehydration from vomiting can cause seizures, permanent brain damage, or death.
Even if the victim lives, an alcohol overdose can lead to irreversible brain damage. Rapid binge drinking (which often happens on a bet or a dare) is especially dangerous because the victim can ingest a fatal dose before becoming unconscious.
Don't be afraid to seek medical help for a friend who has had too much to drink. Don't worry that your friend may become angry or embarrassed-remember, you cared enough to help. Always be safe, not sorry.
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Students In Recovery
Congratulations! You’ve come a long way and should be proud of yourself.
But it's not easy. Not a day goes by that you’re not actively work towards remaining sober. Like any college-bound student you are probably excited about college but also worried about normal college fears – making friends, the social scene, juggling classes. Being a student in recovery adds a new twist to the normal emotions of going to college.
For example – Will you decide to be open about your history with substances or will you try to hide it. How will you handle social situations where alcohol or other drugs might be offered? Will you need additional support once you get to campus to help you stay sober?
- Choosing a college- when choosing a college you should keep in mind certain characteristics. What type of living situation will you be comfortable with? Most colleges offer substance-free housing or substance-free halls.
And some schools have programs specifically geared toward students in recovery. The Association of Recovery Schools (link to www.recoveryschools.org) has a list of colleges that offer these services.
- Find a support network on campus before you get there – many colleges will have NA or AA meetings on campus. If not, then you can easily find out where to attend a meeting
near your campus.
- Make friends who will support you and your sober lifestyle – you may come across people who find it difficult to understand some of the sacrifices you have to make to stay sober. Surround yourself with people who will provide you support when you're in need.
