Making the most of your time is always the best option. The clock is constantly ticking, and as the clock is ticking you are losing more and more time. Time has always been of the essence, dating back to the Greek mythology times when “Kairos” was introduced. Kairos “refers to the opportune time and/or place–that is, the right or appropriate time to say or do the right or appropriate thing.” We thought this was relevant especially for college students. It is so important to make sure you prioritize your time in order to get the most out of your college experience. Here are five ways to make the most of your semester!
1. Join a student organization
The time is now. The time to join something, be a part of something, belong to something. I’m sure at least one person told you before you began your freshman year of college to “get involved” once you arrived on campus. Well, as seniors, we have found enormous value in this advice and can assure you that working with a student org will make your semester more enjoyable. Luckily for you, UNCW houses 270+ student organizations, and it’s only the second week of September – the PERFECT time to join something new, whether it be academic, Greek life, performing arts, sports, service, or special interest related. By joining a student organization, you can make new friends, have great opportunities to grow personally and professionally, and have fun! So don’t wait – take action to join TODAY!
http://giphy.com/search/get-involved
2. Go to an event
Remember in your freshman seminar class when you had to go to x amount of on-campus events? Musical concerts, academic lectures, all kinds of fairs? There was good reason behind the attempt to get freshmen out there. UNCW’s campus is chock full (also, chalked full) of all kinds of events. Go to a concert, academic lecture, speaking event, or a production put on by ACE – the university’s student programming board. Broaden your horizons, learn something new, meet new people. Once the moment (or event) passes, it’s gone. So take advantage of all the great things happening on your college campus, get out of the apartment, and GO!
3. Enjoy the weather while it lasts
Being in Wilmington gives us a certain advantage when it comes to weather. Wilmington is notorious for its perfect weather, especially the months leading into fall. Its that time of year when tourist season starts to fizzle out and things become much less hectic. With tourist season being over, going to the beach and having your own space is finally a possibility! This is the time to take advantage of this gorgeous weather we are given most days here in Wilmington.
Head to Wrightsville Beach and visit a local surf shop so you can rent a bike and enjoy the breeze and grab a coffee or special treat while doing so. Fortunately, the water stays warm through November so if you’re able to, make sure to hit those waves without the crowd!
If watersports are not your thing, dust off those old rollerblades and drive to Carolina Beach for a nice scenic area that is perfect for rollerblading (and it’s a free workout, right?). There are so many things to do here in Wilmington so make sure to get outside and play before the chilly months sneak up on us!
4. Take advantage of the student rec center
The land of all-nighters, non-stop studying, and some of the best parties you will ever experience, college can make it quite hard to find the time to exercise. Luckily for you, it’s not too late to stop by and utilize all of what UNCW’s Student Recreation Center has to offer! For starters, the Fitness Center houses 114 pieces of cardio equipment, alongside nearly 10,000 square feet of strength and conditioning equipment – all of which includes free weights, Olympic lifting platforms, and much more! View the Rec Center as a positive addition to your college experience, not something that is going to suck up all of your free time. With over 20 classes to choose from, begin by incorporating group exercise programs into your daily routine. Make new friends by joining one of the many sports clubs or intramural teams the Rec Center has to offer, such as basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer. Need to kill some time in between classes? Play a few rounds of racquetball, run a couple laps on the indoor track, or utilize the Rec Center’s climbing wall, standing 28 feet tall. Just 30 minutes of exercise can make all the difference. There’s something for everyone, so spend your time wisely!
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5. Reward yourself
The above tips are great, of course, but we all know there will come a point in the semester when things start to slip through the cracks. You’ll forget an assignment, or your detail-oriented, completely organized and color-coded, daily planner will get soaked at the bottom of your backpack after an unexpected storm. Some days will not go as planned; sometimes you will miss the mark. So, reward yourself after accomplishing a goal – even a small task during a stressful week.
Luckily, many great places in Wilmington offer fun opportunities to relieve stress. Jump around with friends at Defy Gravity on College Night (every Thursday). Take a walk downtown. Treat yourself to a late-night order from Insomnia Cookies. We often feel there are not enough hours in the day, but taking time for an important break can do wonders.
http://giphy.com/search/cookie
IMC Hawks Blog 
As a transfer student I found this immensely helpful! The gif’s were nice touch also.
I couldn’t agree more about making the most of your time in college. I think too often students forget about what great opportunities we have here at school. No other time in our life can will we have the liberty to pick such interesting and unique clubs to be a part of. Even if we don’t have a club that you are interested in, there is are plenty of resources to get it started. I also liked that you mentioned rewarding yourself. College can be a very stressful time, and it’s easy to put to much pressure on yourself. Sometimes we got to live up to our brand of “laid back and chill” and take time to do nothing.
I was drawn to this because it is very relevant in my life at the moment, being that I am a college student in the middle of my semester. Students are constantly looking to broaden their horizons on campus and get the most of their experience as possible. I also like the gif’s as it made it seem more friendly, like a buzz feed article.