Making the Most of NCSSM

By Aryaman Shukla, Stentorian Staff Writer

Time at NCSSM is strange. Somehow the days are long, the weeks are short, and semesters evaporate. One moment you’re moving in, figuring out how to fob into the PFM, and the next you’re a senior wondering why you never visited Woolworth just because you could. 

The point is: your time here is limited, and while you can’t do everything, you can definitely make it count. 

First things first: try things, even if you’re terrible at them. NCSSM is full of people who are incredibly good at things, but don’t let that stop you. Join the orchestra even if you know you’re the “comic relief” cellist. Try out for the tennis team even if you have the coordination of a newborn giraffe. Some of your most favorite memories will come not from what you’re the best at, but rather from the things you tried simply because you could. 

While it’s natural to stick with your hallmates or the people who are in all your classes, don’t be afraid to expand your circle. You’ll be surprised by how much more fun this place gets when you meet random people. For all you know, the one quiet kid at your table could become your best lab partner. NCSSM is as much about the people as the academics, so don’t limit yourself. 

Speaking of academics: your teachers aren’t just grade-dispensers. They’re ridiculously smart, yes, but they’re also real people who love talking about their research, their hobbies, and sometimes even their Spotify playlists. Office hours don’t just exist for problem sets, they’re a chance to connect with someone who might actually change how you see a subject and make it a tad less soul-crushing. 

Now, the big one: time management. Every NCSSM student has that phase of believing they can stay up until 3 am, function on four hours of sleep, and still conquer the world. Spoiler: you can’t. Trust me. Figure out a system, be it a Google Calendar or sticky notes all around your desk, that helps you stay on top of deadlines without burning out. Yes, procrastination still happens and doomscrolling will prevail, but managing it means you spend less time panicking and more time actually living.

Leave campus once in a while. Ninth Street is fun, but Durham has more to offer than bubble tea and cookies. Go find a trail, a food truck, or even just Harris Teeter, it’ll feel like a vacation compared to staring at dorm room walls. A quick trip off campus reminds you that NCSSM is part of the world, not the whole world. And while we’re at it: take care of yourself. Sleep isn’t optional, despite the myths. Neither is eating something that didn’t come from a vending machine. Your health is what makes everything else possible, and a rested brain always beats a caffeine-fueled zombie version of you.

Finally, remember why you came. Between deadlines, clubs, and late-night work sessions, it’s easy to forget you chose this place to learn, grow, and challenge yourself. When the stress piles up, zoom out. This is only temporary, and someday you’ll laugh about it. You won’t do everything here, and that’s fine. But if you try new things, meet new people, and balance survival with enjoyment, you’ll leave with stories worth telling, and maybe a few to save until after graduation.