What I learned about being a good roommate (from those times I was a not-so-great one)

 

If you’re reading this, you might be about to head to college and get your first roommate. Or maybe you’re getting your first apartment, or an old pro entering a new roommate situation. Regardless of what is happening, most people want to be an awesome roommate no matter what. But what many people don’t realize is that there’s actually a learning curve to be a good roommate, and like any other relationship, it takes some work. While you may think that you’re amazing (and you are), what time you get up, how often you do the dishes, whom you have over and when, and how loud you play your music are all things that are specific habits to you and your life. Negotiating them with a new person, who is not only your age, but might be living in the same bedroom as you, is whole new ball game.
How do I know this? I used to be a pretty terrible roommate my freshman year. I didn’t always clean up after myself, I spent a lot of time in our room, and I had my boyfriend over. A lot. I didn’t think I was a bad roommate at the time, but now in retrospect I realize how tough it must have been to share a room with me. Luckily I’m still on pretty good terms with everyone I lived with, but it might have gone totally different. Since then I’ve moved out of the dorms, lived in two apartments, and had a whole slew of roommates. Here is what I’ve learned about being a good roommate over the years:


1. Be honest about your habits. Like, really honest.
Are you messy? Are you a neat freak? Do you practice an instrument every night or get up early and do yoga every morning? Do you have to sleep with a humidifier or a white noise machine? Here’s the thing: you need to be open about your habits when you’re looking for roomies, or else you may encounter some problems. In college when I was filling out the housing survey, I found myself giving answers that weren’t true to my real habits, so I could come across as more of the easy-going of person I thought was cool (messy, late nights, outgoing) when in reality that’s not me at all (I’m fairly neat, have early nights, and am shy little dormouse).
What ends up happening when you’re not honest about your habits is you get into situations where there’s automatically a potential for conflict. Your new roomie might not only not jibe well with your habits, they might be mad that you weren’t honest about them in the first place. So if you’re looking for a new roommate and don’t know them personally, ask for references. When you talk to the references, keep your questions really general so the reference is more likely to answer honestly without being sure which kind of answers you want to hear. That way you can get the real scoop, and are more likely to end up with a roommate who works well with you.


2. Read between the lines when your roommate tells you his/her plans.
After doing whatever you please for years in your own room, having to share a space with someone else can be a little tricky. When you share a room with another person, you need to be aware of their needs in order to keep the peace. Does your roomie have a test they need to study for that night? If so, maybe now isn’t the time to invite all your friends over to hang out in your room and watch movies. Do you want to stay up, but your roomie has an early class and wants to go to sleep? If so, go hang out in the common area or at a friend’s place. The same goes for apartment living. If you want to do something that is going to interfere with your roomies’ schedule, try to find a compromise.
All of this may sound like a no brainers, but a lot of times it can be tough to remember other people’s schedules and needs, especially if you’re not used to it. It’s also important to remember that something that might not bother you could bother your roommate. If you’re social and they’re shy, give them a heads up before throwing a party or having a bunch of people over. Same goes for shy people. If you never like having guests over, but know your roommate does, let them have people over every once in a while. A little courtesy goes a long way.


3. Avoid falling into a passive-aggressive note hole.
Are you frustrated that your roomie isn’t picking up their stuff or eating your food without asking? Do you want it to stop but don’t want to talk about it? Put down the pen and paper, and don’t write that passive aggressive note! Even though being indirect might feel like an easier way to deal with a problem between roomies, it just adds to more weirdness later. Passive aggressive is still aggressive. It’s much more straightforward to talk to people directly. Even if it seems scary, your roomie will appreciate you coming to them first about a problem rather than jumping to other tactics. The same goes for you. If you’re roommate is asking you to do something or trying to discuss a problem they have, listen to them. Ignoring them or blowing them off, even if you don’t want to deal with it will only cause more tension in the long run. And if someone leaves you a passive aggressive note, ask them about it next time you see them. That way the problem is out in the open, not on the back of everyone’s minds.


4. Don’t let your romantic partner become the third roommate.
If you’re in a relationship with someone and share a room with a roommate you need to tread lightly. Obviously everyone wants alone time with their partner, but if you’re hanging out in your room several nights a school week, or creating situations where your roommate is literally unable to come into the room without any notice, you’re probably going to cause some problems. Talk to your roommate about what they’re comfortable with when it comes to significant others, and stick to the rules. The same goes for when you live in an apartment. Be sure that everyone is on the same page, and comfortable with the amount of time your sweetie is over. And remember, absolutely no one wants a ‘Bevers’ from Broad City, so don’t have your partner stay over if you’re not home unless they absolutely have to. That will make everyone crazy.


5. Here’s a biggie: Pay your rent on time. 
This sounds obvious, but we all need to be reminded to pay our rent and utilities on time now and then. It may seem silly or like it’s not a big deal, but these things add up. If you’re in a scary financial situation and can’t make rent in time, tell your roomies. If you’re subleasing you should have a security deposit that is meant for emergencies like this. If you’re not subleasing, talk to your guarantor. If you don’t have any of these fall backs, talk to your roommates and see if they can cover you, but start paying them back immediately. You don’t want that hanging over your head for very long.

Types of Professor You'll Have in College

I am now in my 2nd year taking up Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. Base on my past experiences in my last school, which is the Adamson University, here are the types of prof you'll encounter

The Golden Oldie: They joined the university what seems like a century ago, and no one really knows how old they are. But one thing is certain; they follow their own agenda.

Lectures can range in length from 30 minutes to two hours, depending entirely on their mood, while ‘deadlines’ are an unknown entity that you rarely have the unfortunate of facing. Seminars are usually spent discussing the dire state of the university or general life as opposed to your course content. To put it bluntly, the Golden Oldie does not give a damn.

The Top-Dog: These professors are the academic equivalent of a BNOC. They’re renowned both on and off campus for their work, regardless of what they teach, and they’ve become a leading expert in the country in their academic field. Just think Brian Cox or Ha-Joon Chang.

As leading figures within their respective fields, it seems that every book in the library related to their subject has been written by them, and every other weekend they can be found jetting off to an international conference to discuss their latest findings. The closest you’ll ever get to a celebrity.
Brian Cox, professor of particle physics at the University of Manchester  Photo: REX FEATURES


The Heart-throb: You’re not quite sure if it’s the jaeger-bombs from the night before or the fact they’re actually an international Italian model, but there’s always that one lecturer who you’ll find yourself worryingly drawn to.

Their interpretation of quantum chromodynamics will leave you breathless while their authority in the lecture hall will set your heart racing. Countless hours will be spent trying to think of an appropriate question just to justify engaging in an “academic” conversation with them – when in reality, you’ll just be happy to be given their undivided attention.



Wannabe: Normally tutors, these guys try so hard it hurts. In their relentless attempt to befriend you, expect to be bombarded with questions of how your weekend was or whether or not you went out to “party”. Conversations will revolve around the nature of their week-long hangovers as they try their best to convince you that they’re actually still a student at heart. The Wannabe will frequently hint at joining you for a quick drink at the union, so make sure to be on your guard at all times.


The Indiana Jones Imitator: They may not carry a whip or wear a fedora, but you wouldn’t be at all surprised to find out that this professor had been spending their weekends in search of the Lost Ark. Beyond teaching classes or running seminars, they’ll always be out in the field working on their research in a niche subject like British Celtic history or palaeontology.

Typically, they’re still relatively young compared to their academic counterparts and seem to have a lot more in common with you than the rest of their colleagues – that’s largely due to the fact that entertaining anecdotes from their own university days feature in all of their lectures. But for all their exploits, you can’t quite figure out if this professor is as cool as Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones or is just a glorified nerd in disguise.



The Radical: This professor’s political radicalism still burns as brightly as the day they first joined 'Anarchists Anonymous' back in the 70s.
Communism, socialism, libertarianism – these guys have tried it all. Expect them to attend every single student demonstration, where they will be found defiantly leading from the front with a megaphone in one hand and a sign declaring “Down with the Tories” in the other. Unsurprisingly, images of Karl Marx, Fidel Castro and Jeremy Corbyn adorn their office walls.



The Philosopher: Much like Robin Williams' Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting, this professor knows all. For any question directed their way – regardless of whether it’s to do with theoretical physics or abstract expressionism – these professors will have an answer.

Expect to walk away from each lecture with your mind blown or your understanding of life completely turned on its head. Questions of ‘how’, ‘what’, and ‘why’ will haunt you after every single one of their lectures and seminars. Alternatively, you could leave each lecture thinking 'what a load of rubbish'.



The Newbie: Fresh-faced, eager to get started, observably excitable, this lecturer is very much the academic fresher. Having finished their PhD only months ago, they launched straight into teaching in a bid to inspire and enlighten every single student.

As a consequence, their enthusiasm knows no limits. From painfully detailed seminars, during which every student can expect to be extensively interrogated, to lectures that zip by at 100 miles-per-hour, the Newbie will try their upmost to cover every single aspect of their module. This is information overload to the max. The last thing you need at 9am after a particularly taxing night out.

 
The ‘Nutty Professor’: Not to be confused with Eddie Murphy’s Sherman Klump, each university wouldn’t be complete without its own ‘Nutty Professor'. Each lecture offers a new and bizarre experience courtesy of their eccentric mannerisms, and crowd participation is usually a guarantee – much to the horror of students shirking to avoid a question they simply don’t know the answer to.

 As for their general attire, anything from science themed ties to T-shirts sporting slogans such as “geology rocks” can be expected from these wisecracking oddballs. Fortunately, given their clear love for their subject, coupled with a usually questionable hobby (think warcraft and alike), these professors are often too absorbed in their own worlds to have any real idea of who you actually are.



The Technophobe: Quite simply, this professor hates anything remotely modern or shiny. Given their stubborn refusal to embrace the present, every aspect of their life is stuck in the past. Computers have been exchanged for typewriters, whiteboards for blackboards, cars for bicycles, and even pens for feather quills.


The ‘Ross-a-tron’: For the diehard Friends fans, the ‘Ross Geller' professor is instantly recognisable. Despite their goofy, bumbling, and socially awkward demeanour, this professor is like the lame family uncle you just can’t help but love. Their jokes are so bad they’re funny, while their general goofiness is guaranteed to brighten every lecture. Just don’t expect any roller-skates or strange British accents any time soon.

5 Rad Things Freshies Should Expect In College

So, another milestone has come to your life. Congratulations for surviving your high school years! And now, it’s time for you to get ready for C-O-L-L-E-G-E. Yes, you read it right. College is the last stop for you as a student, unless you decide on going to graduate school after. That is why you have to savor all the moments while you’re in college.
As a college freshman, everything will be new to you. You will be overwhelmed with a lot of things and at the same time, you will be culture shocked. But fret not as you can definitely deal with these things eventually. So, here are some of the awesome stuff to look forward to when you get to college for the first time:

1. Living away from home

If you happen to live far from your university, then you should probably consider living in a dorm or apartment. It is one way of proving to your parents that you can be independent. Some students would really want to live independently just because they’ll get to be free and do whatever they want. But, dorm living isn’t about not having your family, especially your parents, around, or just doing whatever you please because no one will scold you for staying up late or going home beyond the curfew. Rather, it’s all about knowing that you can stand on your own and learn things you didn’t know you can do.
Living in a dorm will teach you independence and you will be amazed on how you can survive it. Roommates will also play a great part in achieving your independence in college. So, you better get along well with them and living independently will surely be loads of fun and crazy with them around.

2. Flying high with school spirit

Nothing compares to the pride you feel about your university. You will always feel proud whenever your university brings honor to all of you. School spirit is not just about being excited. From the time you have decided to enroll in this university, until you finally passed and get the opportunity to enter it, that’s something to be proud of. You have done something for yourself and you need to take pride in that.
Each university has its own traditions and practices. Whether you like it or not, you have to participate in all of them. As part of the university, you are always encouraged to participate in all the traditions your university have. You might dislike joining these traditions at first  but you will eventually realize that they’re fun too. There is nothing to be ashamed of whenever you have weird traditions or practices in your university, because the school body is with you all the way. And that’s what you call school spirit!

3. Learning from the most brilliant terror professors

Professors are big part of your college life. You will always see them every time you go to class. There are actually different kinds of professors you will meet in college. Some may put a mark in your heart, while others may teach you lessons you will forever remember. No matter how strict or cool your professors in college are, they will definitely have a place in your heart. You wouldn’t survive college without these professors who you would curse or back fight at times. Each professor you will encounter in college should be thanked for. Though they haven’t been so nice to you or may have shamed you in front of the class, you still have to be grateful for them. College life wouldn’t be complete without your most hated and loved professors.

4. Meeting newfound friends

Since the day you set foot on your university, you will gain new friends. Those friends you will meet in college will be a huge part of your life after college. That is why you have to be careful in choosing your friends and take time in knowing them deeper.
It is necessary to make friends with your classmates or other people in the university, so that you won’t feel alone. College life will be more bearable and fun with your friends. It wouldn’t be boring when you have your friends around who will keep you company and do crazy things together.

5. Having a crush on campus hotties

Of course, you have to look forward to all the campus hotties in your university. In order for you to study well, you need an inspiration. (Yeah, right!) As early as your first day, you need to go “hottie hunting” already. (Oh, just kidding.) Definitely, you will find someone who will make your heart beat fast during your stay in the university. Still, it’s studies first before anything else. This is just to spice up your college life and to make it more interesting. You still have to prioritize your studies more than anything else. There is a need for you to concentrate on your classes and not with other things.
Leaving your comfort zone for college is one of the hardest yet best things that you can do to mature and be a real grown-up. College has a lot of things to offer and you can proudly say that this stage of your life will be one of the best if you make the most out of it. So don’t be afraid to take this challenge, just enjoy the ride and have fun.

Transferee's Point of View

Going to a new place means joining a new school, joining a new school means making new friends,

Making new friends means creating a new beginning.

“Oh my god! Tomorrow is August 13th! My first day in school! How will it be? Who all will I meet? How are the teachers going to be??”  I waited for this day with baited breath but now I feel nervous…

This was how I felt on the night before the school started and I’m sure this is how every single child feels when he/she heads  to a new place, a new routine, a new start and a new school.

There is anxiety, happiness, tension and what not!

There are thousands of questions in a new student's mind.

Though most of them feel this way, there are some who just aren’t worried. They don’t care about being new because they know they’ll be fine and confident. But they are generally  people who must have been familiar with such an exposure.

But let me tell you. Being a new student is the best feeling, because as time moves on you get used to the school, friends and everything else; then later, you can’t stop laughing when you look back at the first day at school and think, “was I really that scared? Did I really think I wouldn’t like this place?” So, every place has its own positive energy which attracts us in no time.

Starting a new life

Every student leaves his old school and joins a new one. The first thing that comes in his mind is “How is my new school going to be?”. This has even come in my mind and nearly all students who go to a new school face this.

I hate to leave but because of the DOST scholarship, I have to transfer to an accredited school of their institution. As days passed the sadness within me went away and I started to feel excited because whatever happens I can’t be sad and ruin the rest of my life just because of a ‘small thing’, but this ‘small thing’ was once a big deal for me. I got my TC (Transfer Certificate) from Adamson University and I had to leave the school a bit earlier because I had to pack my things.

When we reached there, the first thing that I wanted to see was my new school. It was a huge school with more than a 1000 students and all of them from different countries and places. I had my admission and the tests. My fees being paid and my admissions done I was back on my school routine once again. For the first day I had an amazing day because there were no studies on that day but when studies started I faced some problems. I tried to make friends but everybody was busy in their own work. I struggled in the beginning but I finally was able to make one person whom I could call my friend! He was an old student in the school so it was easy for me to get in touch with the new schedule which I had to follow. Gradually I started to interact with more people and teachers and made a good reputation in the surroundings. I took part in the class activities and scored well but I still remember how I was in my old school and try to be better over here.

I have faced many problems but today as I stand in front of everyone I feel pride in myself because I have once again joined a new school, made new friends, passed all the challenges and started a new life as a new student.

Here are some tips which will make you more confident when you head to a new school/place

·         Be natural, be yourself , there is no need to be artificial.

·         Don’t think negative, think positive about the new place and avoid thinking a lot about the previous place you lived in.

·         Anyone and everyone you see, just give them a smile.

·         Talk to people with whom you sit.

·         Try and converse  with people freely.

These tips might help you to adjust better in a new school

So, all the best to those who might go to a new school / university in future!

Going to a new place means joining a new school, joining a new school means making new friends,

Making new friends means creating a new beginning.

“Oh my god! Tomorrow is 14th august! My first day in school! How will it be? Who all will I meet? How are the teachers going to be??”  I waited for this day with baited breath but now I feel nervous…

This was how I felt on the night before the school started and I’m sure this is how every single child feels when he/she heads  to a new place, a new routine, a new start and a new school.

There is anxiety, happiness, tension and what not!

There are thousands of questions in a new child’s mind.

Though most of them feel this way, there are some who just aren’t worried. They don’t care about being new because they know they’ll be fine and confident. But they are generally  people who must have been familiar with such an exposure.

But let me tell you. Being a new student is the best feeling, because as time moves on you get used to the school, friends and everything else; then later, you can’t stop laughing when you look back at the first day at school and think, “was I really that scared? Did I really think I wouldn’t like this place?” So, every place has its own positive energy which attracts us in no time.

Starting a new life

Every student leaves his old school and joins a new one. The first thing that comes in his mind is “How is my new school going to be?”. This has even come in my mind and nearly all students who go to a new school face this. Here is a short story on a kid whose father works in a government association and he is posted to a new place after a year or so. How the child moves from place to place shifting schools, tries settling in the way his new school works and how he makes new friends.

‘I hate my father’s job’, came a loud shout from the dining room.Mother went down to see what had happened. It was her son who was very angry when he found out that his father was posted once again to a new station.” Again! I haven’t even finished a year in this school and we have to shift again. It was so difficult for me to settle in this system of the school and now I have to join a new school’.

‘I can’t do anything about that, go and fight with my company who is posting me from one place to another’ said the father. I stood up and went to my room, unhappy and angry but my father was right, he wasn’t the one who was responsible for this. I kept on thinking.

As days passed the sadness within me went away and I started to feel excited because whatever happens I can’t be sad and ruin the rest of my life just because of a ‘small thing’, but this ‘small thing’ was once a big deal for me. I got my TC (Transfer Certificate) from my school and I had to leave the school a bit earlier because I had to help my parents finish the packing. After about a month we had left from our old station and started for the new one. After a journey of 2 days we reached our new place , where we had to live.

When we reached there, the first thing that I wanted to see was my new school. It was a huge school with more than a 1000 students and all of them from different countries and places. I had my admission and the tests. My fees being paid and my admissions done I was back on my school routine once again. For the first day I had an amazing day because there were no studies on that day but when studies started I faced some problems. I tried to make friends but everybody was busy in their own work. I struggled in the beginning but I finally was able to make one person whom I could call my friend! He was an old student in the school so it was easy for me to get in touch with the new schedule which I had to follow. Gradually I started to interact with more people and teachers and made a good reputation in the surroundings. I took part in the class activities and scored well but I still remember how I was in my old school and try to be better over here.

I have faced many problems but today as I stand in front of everyone I feel pride in myself because I have once again joined a new school, made new friends, passed all the challenges and started a new life as a new student.

Here are some tips which will make you more confident when you head to a new school/place

·         Be natural, be yourself , there is no need to be artificial.

·         Don’t think negative, think positive about the new place and avoid thinking a lot about the previous place you lived in.

·         Anyone and everyone you see, just give them a smile.

·         Talk to people with whom you sit.

·         Try and converse  with people freely.

These tips might help you to adjust better in a new school

So, all the best to those who might go to a new school / university in future!

- See more at: http://theflame.unishanoi.org/opinion/2013/11/12/life-in-a-new-school/#sthash.jPCzbYMc.dpuf

Going to a new place means joining a new school, joining a new school means making new friends,

Making new friends means creating a new beginning.

“Oh my god! Tomorrow is 14th august! My first day in school! How will it be? Who all will I meet? How are the teachers going to be??”  I waited for this day with baited breath but now I feel nervous…

This was how I felt on the night before the school started and I’m sure this is how every single child feels when he/she heads  to a new place, a new routine, a new start and a new school.

There is anxiety, happiness, tension and what not!

There are thousands of questions in a new child’s mind.

Though most of them feel this way, there are some who just aren’t worried. They don’t care about being new because they know they’ll be fine and confident. But they are generally  people who must have been familiar with such an exposure.

But let me tell you. Being a new student is the best feeling, because as time moves on you get used to the school, friends and everything else; then later, you can’t stop laughing when you look back at the first day at school and think, “was I really that scared? Did I really think I wouldn’t like this place?” So, every place has its own positive energy which attracts us in no time.

Starting a new life

Every student leaves his old school and joins a new one. The first thing that comes in his mind is “How is my new school going to be?”. This has even come in my mind and nearly all students who go to a new school face this. Here is a short story on a kid whose father works in a government association and he is posted to a new place after a year or so. How the child moves from place to place shifting schools, tries settling in the way his new school works and how he makes new friends.

‘I hate my father’s job’, came a loud shout from the dining room.Mother went down to see what had happened. It was her son who was very angry when he found out that his father was posted once again to a new station.” Again! I haven’t even finished a year in this school and we have to shift again. It was so difficult for me to settle in this system of the school and now I have to join a new school’.

‘I can’t do anything about that, go and fight with my company who is posting me from one place to another’ said the father. I stood up and went to my room, unhappy and angry but my father was right, he wasn’t the one who was responsible for this. I kept on thinking.

As days passed the sadness within me went away and I started to feel excited because whatever happens I can’t be sad and ruin the rest of my life just because of a ‘small thing’, but this ‘small thing’ was once a big deal for me. I got my TC (Transfer Certificate) from my school and I had to leave the school a bit earlier because I had to help my parents finish the packing. After about a month we had left from our old station and started for the new one. After a journey of 2 days we reached our new place , where we had to live.

When we reached there, the first thing that I wanted to see was my new school. It was a huge school with more than a 1000 students and all of them from different countries and places. I had my admission and the tests. My fees being paid and my admissions done I was back on my school routine once again. For the first day I had an amazing day because there were no studies on that day but when studies started I faced some problems. I tried to make friends but everybody was busy in their own work. I struggled in the beginning but I finally was able to make one person whom I could call my friend! He was an old student in the school so it was easy for me to get in touch with the new schedule which I had to follow. Gradually I started to interact with more people and teachers and made a good reputation in the surroundings. I took part in the class activities and scored well but I still remember how I was in my old school and try to be better over here.

I have faced many problems but today as I stand in front of everyone I feel pride in myself because I have once again joined a new school, made new friends, passed all the challenges and started a new life as a new student.

Here are some tips which will make you more confident when you head to a new school/place

·         Be natural, be yourself , there is no need to be artificial.

·         Don’t think negative, think positive about the new place and avoid thinking a lot about the previous place you lived in.

·         Anyone and everyone you see, just give them a smile.

·         Talk to people with whom you sit.

·         Try and converse  with people freely.

These tips might help you to adjust better in a new school

So, all the best to those who might go to a new school / university in future!

- See more at: http://theflame.unishanoi.org/opinion/2013/11/12/life-in-a-new-school/#sthash.jPCzbYMc.dpuf

Going to a new place means joining a new school, joining a new school means making new friends,

Making new friends means creating a new beginning.

“Oh my god! Tomorrow is 14th august! My first day in school! How will it be? Who all will I meet? How are the teachers going to be??”  I waited for this day with baited breath but now I feel nervous…

This was how I felt on the night before the school started and I’m sure this is how every single child feels when he/she heads  to a new place, a new routine, a new start and a new school.

There is anxiety, happiness, tension and what not!

There are thousands of questions in a new child’s mind.

Though most of them feel this way, there are some who just aren’t worried. They don’t care about being new because they know they’ll be fine and confident. But they are generally  people who must have been familiar with such an exposure.

But let me tell you. Being a new student is the best feeling, because as time moves on you get used to the school, friends and everything else; then later, you can’t stop laughing when you look back at the first day at school and think, “was I really that scared? Did I really think I wouldn’t like this place?” So, every place has its own positive energy which attracts us in no time.

Starting a new life

Every student leaves his old school and joins a new one. The first thing that comes in his mind is “How is my new school going to be?”. This has even come in my mind and nearly all students who go to a new school face this. Here is a short story on a kid whose father works in a government association and he is posted to a new place after a year or so. How the child moves from place to place shifting schools, tries settling in the way his new school works and how he makes new friends.

‘I hate my father’s job’, came a loud shout from the dining room.Mother went down to see what had happened. It was her son who was very angry when he found out that his father was posted once again to a new station.” Again! I haven’t even finished a year in this school and we have to shift again. It was so difficult for me to settle in this system of the school and now I have to join a new school’.

‘I can’t do anything about that, go and fight with my company who is posting me from one place to another’ said the father. I stood up and went to my room, unhappy and angry but my father was right, he wasn’t the one who was responsible for this. I kept on thinking.

As days passed the sadness within me went away and I started to feel excited because whatever happens I can’t be sad and ruin the rest of my life just because of a ‘small thing’, but this ‘small thing’ was once a big deal for me. I got my TC (Transfer Certificate) from my school and I had to leave the school a bit earlier because I had to help my parents finish the packing. After about a month we had left from our old station and started for the new one. After a journey of 2 days we reached our new place , where we had to live.

When we reached there, the first thing that I wanted to see was my new school. It was a huge school with more than a 1000 students and all of them from different countries and places. I had my admission and the tests. My fees being paid and my admissions done I was back on my school routine once again. For the first day I had an amazing day because there were no studies on that day but when studies started I faced some problems. I tried to make friends but everybody was busy in their own work. I struggled in the beginning but I finally was able to make one person whom I could call my friend! He was an old student in the school so it was easy for me to get in touch with the new schedule which I had to follow. Gradually I started to interact with more people and teachers and made a good reputation in the surroundings. I took part in the class activities and scored well but I still remember how I was in my old school and try to be better over here.

I have faced many problems but today as I stand in front of everyone I feel pride in myself because I have once again joined a new school, made new friends, passed all the challenges and started a new life as a new student.

Here are some tips which will make you more confident when you head to a new school/place

·         Be natural, be yourself , there is no need to be artificial.

·         Don’t think negative, think positive about the new place and avoid thinking a lot about the previous place you lived in.

·         Anyone and everyone you see, just give them a smile.

·         Talk to people with whom you sit.

·         Try and converse  with people freely.

These tips might help you to adjust better in a new school

So, all the best to those who might go to a new school / university in future!

- See more at: http://theflame.unishanoi.org/opinion/2013/11/12/life-in-a-new-school/#sthash.jPCzbYMc.dpuf

Going to College #AdUitthisway

             I was so excited about starting college because it meant a big step in growing up, and I loved the prospect of all the fun: school clubs, after-school activities, dating, and parties. But I was also just as nervous about all of those things. I was afraid I would make a huge mistake in my freshman year that would ruin my social life for the next 4 years in university. I was also afraid the classwork would be so much harder than high school. After a few weeks into my 1st year , though, I realized going to college wasn't something to worry about. I was prepared for it by all the learning and growing I had done the year prior. Don't let all of the fears get blown out of proportion. 

              The social game plays a big role in the transition from middle school to high school. You have the influence of older kids around you and peer pressure hits hard. My advice is not to worry so much about trying to be cool; I had to learn that the hard way. If people are really your friends, they won't ask you to do something you don't feel comfortable doing or that's wrong. I almost lost my best friend because I wanted to be with the "in" crowd, but they didn't want anything to do with her. The things they were involved in didn't fit my definition of "right" either, but I was willing to sacrifice my values to be cool. Stand your ground about what you feel is right for you, even when everybody else seems to give in. Enjoy the new opportunities available to you, but don't push for all the doors to open too soon. Most importantly, remember how nervous you were entering college.