Olivia Hupp returns for another semester to help you navigate life at OU.
Happy Spring Semester, Bobcats!
Hopefully everyone had a safe and relaxing break. Or, if you’re like me, you were able to work a full-time job and earn some extra cash for the next few months.
From the looks of the forecast, the weather will likely continue to stay disgusting during Week 1. Piece of advice: if you have to walk to class, make sure you’re bundling up and allowing some extra time to maneuver through all the icy sidewalks. If you’re driving, the roads in town tend to stay fairly safe thanks to the road crews, but still use caution. Darkness in the early mornings mixed with rain or snow can make it hard to see pedestrians, and everyone knows that normal street-crossing rules don’t apply to most people in Athens.
To get your semester started on the right foot, here are a few tidbits of advice to consider:
Unless the weather is truly terrible and you have no way of getting there, go to class. Professors are usually good about judging the conditions outside and canceling classes even if the university remains open. They don’t want to be out in the bad weather any more than you do.
Be courteous to other students. Hold the door for someone behind you when you’re going to class and be sure to say thank you. This seems to have become somewhat of a lost concept.
Stay on top of your schoolwork. If you start off strong, the chances of slacking off when warm weather hits won’t be as high — or at least your grades won’t suffer as much. We all fall off of the wagon every once in a while.
Most importantly, have fun! I’ve always found spring semester to be the best semester at OU. With fest season hovering on the horizon and the promise of warmer temperatures in the coming months, there will be plenty to look forward to.
Olivia Hupp is a senior studying English literature and creative writing. Email her at oh994610@ohio.edu.
