New Year. New Start.

Finally the start of a new year! I know I have heard from numerous people, myself included, that 2012 was a particularly rough year. Perhaps you didn't do as well in the Fall 2012 semester as you would have liked. You know what? That’s okay! A new semester is about to begin and with it you can start with a fresh outlook on college life.

You have officially survived your first semester of college! Congratulations! It may have beaten you down and left your spirits crushed, but you are still here fighting for your education. Trust me, I know. My first college semester was by far the worst semester of my life. I felt like I had failed myself and my family because I did not get anywhere near the grades I had expected. I was emotionally and mentally drained from trying to just make it through the semester. Come January, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to come back. Did I give up? No. Why? Because of the awesome people I had supporting me and telling me that I can do this. You may be sitting there thinking “I don’t have anyone to support me and help me through this.” You couldn’t be more wrong!

The awesome faculty and staff here at PNC, no matter what you may think, actually want you to succeed! Even now that I have graduated, I still talk to the faculty and staff because they are my mentors. If you are feeling stuck or like you just want to give up, come talk to them! That’s why they are here. If any time during the semester you are struggling with a single class in particular, don’t give up! Seek help! The tutors are here to assist you and help you learn the material. As a tutor myself, nothing makes me feel better than a student coming back to thank me for helping them actually learn the material and get through the class. There are so many opportunities for students on this campus and you should take full advantage of them all.

January 14^th is quickly approaching. Enter this semester thinking “I can do this. This is going to be my semester.” Make this semester the best semester possible! Join a club, go see a sporting event, or just get involved wherever you can. Once you get involved you’ll see how much you can truly gain from this place. So enjoy the next 11 days of your break! Have fun with family and friends. Let’s make 2013 the year of success! 

©Kelsey Jordan 2013