Unless you have been living under a rock... we are in full swing of back to school season. This is the time of year that people groan and moan and wish that we could rewind July and August just to avoid September for a while longer. Unfortunately, that's not possible so we have to deal with what we have. Luckily, I am here to help! You have officially hit the big leagues, high school is behind you and you are off to a higher (and way more expensive) education. As a graduate of the university world, I am here to lend a helping hand to the great big step into the adult world. Once you're done here, head on over to my Youtube channel (itslaurenski) for even more tips so you can be a pro before you even cross the threshold of your first class. Keep on scrolling here for 5 quick tips that can help you no matter what year you're in.

Tip #1: Join at Least One Club 🎯

Let's be real.. all of us wish we could make friends like we did in Kindergarten. Oh for the days you could bond with your new BFF over animal crackers and fruit gushers at recess. As an adult it can be way more intimidating to walk into a room of people you don't know and pray that someone feels the same way. Make it easy on yourself and join a club! You are more likely to meet people with similar interests as you and spend time with people beyond the four walls of a lecture hall. Clubs can also look really good on resumes for internships and entry-level jobs, dependent on the club's contents of course!

Tip #2: Be Physically Active! 🏋

More and more universities are putting gyms and fitness centres as part of their #studentlife so if you are a full-time student you can bank on it (literally) that you are paying for a gym membership as part of your school fees. So why not take advantage of it? Being physically active allows you to decompress and take a break from studying for that Sociology midterm that "is totally going to kill me" or can give you the opportunity to do something new. Working out at the gym actually helped me energize myself to get through the rest of my day and survive finals week. Finally, the most obvious reason being that it is physically healthy for you! It can make you feel less guilty about that whole pizza you ate at your BFF's birthday and the earlier you introduce fitness into your routine, the less it will feel like a chore and more like something you will continue in your older adult years... which is not something to complain about.

Tip #3: Work While You're in School 💸

Not everyone has the luxury of having their parents foot the obscene bill that university is, but even if you do- there's a lot of value in working while you are at school and no, it's not all just financial. Some programs will tell you not to work while you are in school, which I think is ridiculously unrealistic. I should know, my university program was one of them. I received a lot of flack from faculty if I mentioned that I was working while hitting the books, but it didn't hurt my academic success. I landed on the Dean's List almost every semester. It's possible if you make it possible. I worked all four years that I was in school and it was one of the smartest things I ever did for myself. Working while I was in school made me strengthen skills and have real work experience that I could not receive from a textbook. I worked my way up to management opportunities before I was 20 and had the capacity to network for internships related to my degree. I honestly don't know if I would be at ease about my job security and future without working all those years. It also gives you some cash and freedom from your parents, who doesn't like that? 

Tip #4: Dress for Success 👗

We have all worn the same t-shirt for three days in a row and that pair of lululemon leggings to class but I want to encourage all you students to break out of this rut! (Youtube video coming soon!) Putting a little more effort into what you're wearing can actually help you out in multiple ways. Being put together can help your confidence to nail a presentation... or approach that cute guy (or girl) in your chemistry class. I also personally find mixing up my wardrobe fun as I can show more of my personality. You also never know who can be at your school each day. Instructors can invite guest speakers to class or you may have a recruitment manager with a booth on campus from that company you've been dying to work with. You want them to have the impression that you are a put together student who is ready for success... or a job.

Tip #5: No One Cares Who You Were in High School 💁🏻

This probably isn't a surprise to everyone, but if you are desperately clinging onto who you were in high school... just let it go. Don't worry, everything is going to be alright and others are going through this transition. I actually found the experience liberating to shed my awkward high school skin and re-invent myself in a more adult light. Instead of looking back on high school and wishing you could go back, let go and move on. The longer you dwell on what high school was and who you were while you were there, the more you will miss out on the excitement around you. Keep in touch with who you want to from your high school days, but be open to new opportunities  and experiences.  If you were like me and dying to escape what high school can be, don't worry about what other people think and be who you want to be. You never know, you may like who you become more than who you were.