Fall of 2024 was a true rollercoaster of emotions for me. I had just moved to a new city and I was now in college for the next four years. That sudden realization unlocked millions of fears.

Will I get along with my roommate? How do I stop feeling small in a school so big? Are professors really that daunting? What if I can’t keep up with the fast-paced events of college life?

Well into the fall semester, I no longer perceived the unknown as scary.

I would say the best advice is to fake it ‘till you make it, but that’s only the foundation, the ground floor. I had to map out an entire staircase, each step leading me closer to finding my own rhythm at college.

As a current sophomore, I still find myself with some of the anxieties I once had as an incoming freshman. I don’t believe they ever truly go away, you just simply assimilate the world around you and find ways to navigate it.

So, if you find yourself being unsure of what the steps ahead of you might look like, here’s a glimpse at the ones I followed that made me a bit more secure as a UK student.

1. Getting involved. College, like it or not, is one big socializing sphere. Whether you’re an introvert or not, verbal exchanges happen every day, so you might as well make it a worthy interaction.

Something I found truly fascinating about UK’s campus is the willingness students have to welcome others to join their clubs, organizations and even friend groups. This doesn’t mean that joining a club will guarantee a forever friendship, but it does provide an opportunity for a friendship to begin if you allow it.

2. Skipping classes actually backfires. Every college student is guilty of skipping at least one class throughout their college career. Whether it’s an 8:00 a.m. class you just don’t want to go to or you have a previous commitment keeping you from lecture, class just doesn’t seem that important at times.

Sadly, it can be. Accumulating skips isn’t something to be proud of. Professors will notice your attendance and you’ll begin to fall behind on coursework. Yes, even if the TA posts slides of the class you missed.

My advice? Choose which classes to skip and when. Treat skipping classes as a last resource.

This brings me to my third piece of advice.

3. Go to office hours. Asking questions to your professor because you don’t understand what they lectured on is not embarrassing. Being curious and having the necessity to understand material will never be something to be ashamed of.

In my experience, professors and teaching figures I’ve encountered at UK want to have students visit their office at least once. Partly so they can help students, partly so they can get to know them as people.

4. Sleep matters more than you think. I wish I was kidding when I say the difference is highly noticeable between someone who has slept five hours versus eight. I was a fan of going to bed at 2 a.m. until I quickly realized college is too exhausting to go to sleep at that time.

Even though parties, social events and homework are all valid excuses for a late bedtime, a habit shouldn’t be made around them. Your attentiveness in general is a great deal and it’s only attainable with a healthy sleeping schedule. Prioritize your sleep, get the rest you need.

5. Create a healthy lifestyle balance. In college, everything comes back to balance. There’s fun on one hand and then there’s school responsibilities. You don’t have to deprive yourself of going out to be successful in college, but working towards your academic goals is an effort to always keep in mind.

6. Develop good studying habits. Some people find out they can’t study with other people or simply have to listen to classical music on repeat to solve equations.

What’s great about studying is that it’s personalized. Don’t approach it with intimidation, rather make it a space to unite what you already know and what you should work on knowing better.

7. Get to know your advisor. Sure, this might not be the most meaningful relationship you will ever build throughout your college years, but introducing yourself and popping into advising sessions every now will never be a bad idea.

In fact, they want to get to know you. If they do, planning courses and talking about academic expectations will become way easier. They’ll recommend classes they know you’ll be interested in.

8. Use campus resources. I’m always amazed at the amount of tools UK has to offer students. From relaxation spaces to multiple tutoring resources, I’ve learned to take advantage of spaces that promote my well-being as a human and my success as a student.

9. Learn how to budget. Money, money, money. It feels like money is always running out when you go on a random side quest with your friends after class or spend some on Doordash at midnight.

Managing your money will save you money. I started with baby steps. I limited myself to how much money I could spend on both necessities and personal purchases. Once you set the line, there’s no crossing it. You’ll think you’re being mean to yourself, but all you’re doing is helping your future.

10. Call your loved ones. This should be the easiest out of all the steps. All you really need is willingness and a cellphone. I was guilty of being too stunned by my new life, I’d forgotten about my old one for a minute.

I think it’s important to recognize growing up in life doesn’t mean outgrowing your family or friends. You can be a focused student and still call your mom updating her about the sandwich you ate for lunch.

There’s no shame in feeling comfortable with both your new life and your home. Yes, college is challenging. Graduation is the final step of the staircase, after all.

In my experience, there’s no greater reward than looking back at a school semester and giving yourself a tap on the shoulder. Preparedness might just be what gets you there.