Sweat the Small Stuff

Often in life, we are told not to “sweat the small stuff” which I couldn’t agree with more.  However, there are certain exceptions to this rule like when it comes to signing up for classes for your first time at a new school.  If you decide to ignore the small stuff, you might be in for a surprise your following semester just like I was.

In the winter of 2011, I started my first semester at Maryville.  I was nervous just like I was for the first day of kindergarten, high school, moving away from home, etc.  Although, I was more excited and I felt like my life was finally coming together and I was at the right place at the right time.  The day I went to sign up for classes I did what the lady said and went home and marked each of my five classes (15 credit hours) on my calendar.  It  wasn’t until about halfway into the second week of classes I realized I had a lot bigger work load then I had ever had in college.

 Turns out Maryville has day classes that go for the full 16 weeks of the semester as well as night classes that are eight weeks long and only once a week.  Obviously, in eight weeks you still have to learn all the information you would in 16 so the workload is doubled.  I was somehow put into three eight-week classes along with my two 16-week classes.  It wasn’t long before I was stressing and saying goodbye social life, hello head in a book.

I ended up getting through the semester with a 3.6 but it wasn’t easy.  If only I had paid attention to the little things, I wouldn’t of had such a hard time. Looking back on it I wish I knew how important the small stuff can be when it comes to college.  I guess you live and you learn and, like that saying that comes around much too often in life, hindsight is always 20/20.