By Noah Fine, Stentorian Staff Writer
Every junior brings two things with them when they come to NCSSM: shower shoes and lots and lots of questions. In this article, I’ll give you 11 bits of advice I wish I had during my first year at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics:
- If You Need Help, Ask for It.
To put it bluntly, every adult in Science and Math is paid thousands of dollars to help you fix your problems. The only challenge is finding the right person to ask. Don’t be afraid to ask teachers, Community Coordinators, and other administrative personnel for help when you need it — they’re here to serve you.
- Go With the Flow.
Things will go wrong at Science and Math, it’s all but inevitable. Learning how to ride the wave of failure and stay calm when things aren’t going your way is one of the most important things you’ll learn during your junior year.
- Work Hard to Learn Names.
During your first days and weeks at NCSSM, focus on learning as many names as you can. Oftentimes, simply learning someone’s name can be the greatest barrier to making a friend. By your first extended weekend, aim to be on a first-name basis with the people who live near you and at least one person in each of your classes.
- Friend Groups are Flexible.
During your first semester at NCSSM, friend groups are extremely malleable. You’ll form and dissolve connections almost every day. Do not be worried if you don’t feel like you have an ideal friend group then, or at any point during your junior year.
- Try New Things!
Living at Science and Math can be an amazing opportunity to reinvent yourself! Have a competition you always wanted to participate in? A sport you always wanted to try out for? There’s no better time to go out and give it your best shot. As the year goes on, however, remember to…
- Manage Your Time Commitments.
You only have so many hours in the day, and a sizeable portion of those will be taken up by classes and homework. Balancing the remaining time between socializing, studying, and sleep will prevent stress and protect your health in the long run, especially during high workload times such as exam season. Google Calendar is amazing for visualizing your schedule, but it isn’t essential — use whatever works best for you!
- Find Alone Time.
One thing you’ll notice quickly is that you’re almost always surrounded by your peers. Moments when you’re truly alone will be few and far between. Actively seeking alone time after school or during free periods can be super beneficial to your mental and physical health.
- Talk to Your Teachers.
The teachers at Science and Math are some of the kindest I’ve ever met and will try their best to help you find academic success. Teachers here have high expectations, but they also know that NCSSM students will need extra support. Don’t be afraid to communicate if you have worries about directions or deadlines.
- Clean Up After Yourself.
No one likes having to clean up someone else’s mess. Learning to leave common spaces just as you found them — or better — is an essential part of living independently at NCSSM. Getting in the habit of cleaning up after yourself in your room, on your hall, and in study spaces will keep your fellow students happy and healthy.
- Complaints May Not Reflect Reality.
Complaining is Science and Math students’ number two favorite activity, just behind stressing about college, and just in front of complaining about stressing about college. A fair amount of the negative opinions you’ll encounter are overstated — don’t let them stop you from pursuing things you’ll enjoy.
- Everything Will Be Okay, in the End.
As you get deeper into the school year, and stress begins to build up, remember that you are a student at NCSSM. You were chosen from a pool of exceedingly qualified applicants because you are smart, driven, and capable. Keep going with the flow, and you’ll be all right in the end. Science and Math students are quite good at building a bright future for themselves.
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