Chapel Lyrics Quiz
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QUIZ: Which Welch Cafeteria Meal are You?
You are what you eat! At Welch College, we share our meals together in the cafeteria. So if you are what you eat, everyone at Welch must be one of the cafeteria faves! Take this short quiz to find out which Welch food favorite you are!
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A Packing Guide for College Freshmen
Hey guys – It’s Raygan here! I remember when I began packing for my freshman year at Welch, I was stressed out. I spent my days on YouTube and Pinterest just trying to figure out what I really needed to pack. However, It wasn’t until the end of my freshman year that I actually knew exactly what I needed. YouTube videos got a lot of it right, but I also found that there were many things I never actually needed and they just took up space. So if you’re wondering what you really need to pack – do not worry! I am going to share 3 things that I think every college student needs and 3 things that you should definitely leave at home!
3 THINGS YOU NEED IN YOUR COLLEGE LIFE!!!!
- A STEAMER
Just an FYI, your clothes are gonna wrinkle…BAD! And yeah you could use a wrinkle spray or even pray the dryer works some magic on that business casual shirt, but I can promise you that you’ll need something stronger. I know a few people that brought actual ironing boards to campus, but ain’t no one got time or room for that. I had girls beating down my door to use my steamer. It’s cheap, small, and quick. 10/10 Dr. Pinsons recommend.
- TEXTBOOKS
I know… you’re like “Raygan duh” but hear me out!! A lot of students wait until classes start to get their textbooks, but sometimes you’ll have reading assignments that same week (I know crazy right?). The stress of ordering books the week school starts is actually horrid; so here’s a tip for you to do a few weeks before school starts. After you register for classes (If you’ve pre-registered) go on Populi and see who your professors are. Once you’ve done that, send them a little sweet email (their email will be on Populi), and ask them what you’ll need for class! For starters, you can have your books before the first day, but more importantly, you’ll look like a good student early on *cough* teacher’s pet *cough*
- BASIC ADULTING ESSENTIALS
You are becoming an adult, and college is the first big step in your new independent journey! With being an adult, you need to be prepared for any situation you might encounter. So here are a few things you will definitely need to have on hand!
- A laundry basket (The sad truth is that you’ll be doing laundry a lot)
- Quarters! (duh for the laundry…Definitely not for a speedway slushie…unless…)
- Extra sheets/Pillowcases (not to sound like your legal guardian, but “ew! wash your sheets!”)
- Silverware and plates (Your friend across the hall might be making guacamole.. you have to be prepared)
NOW ONTO THE THINGS YOU DON’T NEED…
- WINTER COATS
When you choose Welch you are also choosing Tennessee, and the crazy weather we have here. I have lived here my entire life and can go ahead and tell you that the winter coats you wanna bring will not be used until the middle of December. I can almost promise that we will be living in Summer heat until Halloween with maybe one snowstorm in September. Take my advice, and bring one light jacket, a rain jacket (add an umbrella while you’re at it.. It rains.. A LOT!), and one coat you can leave in the back of your car. It is all you will need.
- TOO MANY CLOTHES/TOWELS
While we’re on the topic of Winter clothes, it is a good idea to mention that you do not need your entire wardrobe and bathroom stuff. I am ashamed to admit that I am the queen of overpacking clothes (especially shoes!), but the truth is that you just won’t wear them all, and they will take up so much space. Bring your clothing essentials, 3 towels, and enough shoes to have a pair for any occasion you’ll encounter (Don’t forget your dress shoes!!!!).
- TOO MUCH DORM DECOR
If you have your Pinterest dorm board on another tab, you might want to click out for a minute. Sure, a boujee room will look super cute when you move-in, but no one tells you the struggles of taking it down. Plus all of those fluffy, fur throw pillows will end up on your floor. Keep it cute and simple. You can do a lot with a single tapestry and some pictures from home (Do not forget the lights!).
I hope I have made your packing life a little simpler. College is so much fun so don’t prepare by stressing over what to bring! At Welch, you are gonna make so many friends that if you forget something, there is a good chance your neighbor will have an extra. And if you need some shoes, there is an even better chance that I over-packed for the third year in a row! But if all else fails…there is always a Walmart down the street. Happy Packing!!!
Raygan Sellers is a Junior at Welch College majoring in Humanities and works for the Enrollment Department as a Student Rep for prospective students. She is active on campus displaying her theatrical and musical talents. Raygan also serves as the Bronte Society President.
Keeping Up With Your Mental Health in College
College can be stressful. You’re beginning a new part of your life, quite possibly in a new town or state, and you’re still not quite sure how to adult yet. You start classes, find a job, build a social life, and suddenly, you’re stressed. There’s no way around it, but there are ways to decrease the amount of stress that comes your way.
KNOW WHEN TO SAY NO
As an avid people pleaser, I struggle with this one a lot. No matter what is being asked of me, I have a hard time saying “no.” However, your ability to say it can help you minimize your stress at college. Now, I’m not telling you to say “no” to everything or to skip out on classes or work shifts, but I am saying that it’s alright to decline an invitation to a group hangout or to not take that extra shift at work. If I tell my friends that I’ll stay on campus and have some quiet time instead of going to the coffee shop or to a concert, they understand that I need to recharge. Everyone has limits, and sometimes that means stepping back and saying “no”.
HAVE SOME QUIET TIME
Even if you don’t have a busy class schedule, college can (and probably will) be overwhelming. You have homework, tests to study for, friends to hang out with, and a work shift to get to, and that’s not including all the extracurricular activities you might be a part of. Being involved is a lot of fun, but you also need to remember to take a breath and come to a stop, so find a piece of your day where you can sit down and do that. You can carry a book with you and read during a break in classes. You can color (or paint or draw) before you go to supper. If you’re super tired, you can take a nap. Most of the time, I will finish my day with quiet time by studying my Bible before bed. Whatever you decide to do and wherever you put it in your day, make sure you have a moment to breathe.
CREATE A SCHEDULE
I know what you’re thinking: I’ve already created my class schedule, so I’m good. While having your class schedule already made is important, I’m talking about finding where each part of your life fits into your day. It’s quite possible that you’ll be juggling a lot of different things during the semester, and it’s important to find some kind of balance. This doesn’t necessarily mean creating a strict schedule (1:30 – Biology, 2:25 – Get ready for work, 2:38 – leave for work). Each day is going to look different, and each week won’t need the same schedule, so it’s important to be flexible with your schedule. I do recommend knowing what is expected in each part of your life and understanding the boundaries. Know when it’s time to pay attention in class and when it’s time to have fun. Understand that you might need more time for studying this week, but that there’ll be more free time to hang out with friends next week. Block off an hour after classes to take a nap, and then get ready for work. Find that balance, and juggling the different things won’t be as difficult or stressful.
FIND YOUR PEOPLE
They say it takes a village to raise a child. I’m here to tell you that it also takes a village to get through college. Whether you’re staying close to home or moving to a different state, finding your network of confidants is vital to ease your stress during the semester. They are going to be the ones that encourage you, celebrate with you, comfort you, and experience life with you. It’s quite possible that you will have different networks for different areas of your life (pals at work, study buddies in the same class as you, roommates and suitemates, the soccer team, your close friends, the musical cast); the more, the merrier!
EXPLORE
You are a fresh adult, and making major life decisions is tough! I’m here to tell you that it’s okay to change your mind once, twice, or a thousand times. It’s okay to take general classes and choose your major later on, and it’s okay to switch majors because you’ve found a new interest in a different career. It’s okay to explore different extracurricular activities until you find something you’re good at and passionate about. It’s okay to try something you haven’t tried before. Go ahead and audition for the musical! Take trumpet lessons! Explore different career options! Find your passions, your interests, and your strengths by stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new.
