Heading out of your family home to live on your own can be scary.
There are so many things that you have to learn but have not been taught in school. The money, the food, the pressure — everything will bring about new challenges. But here are some ways to deal with all of those things in a healthier manner than I did when I was a new college student.
Money is a thing in our society that is either feared or loved. When you are out on your own, trying to manage your finances can be terrifying. But be calm about it. If you have a bank account, be sure to check it as often as possible. There is nothing worse than going to the store and needing to buy something, only to find out that you don’t have enough money to spend on it.
Jessy Forsmo-Shadid
With that in mind, keep track of where you spend your money. Pizza is a wonderful thing that has blessed this earth, but be careful. The blessing of a beautiful pizza and other take-out foods can empty your wallet without you batting an eye. If you are worried about where you are spending your money, keep a calendar and mark an “X” on the dates when you go out to eat. This might be a wake up call, but it’s important to stay aware of your spending habits.
Since we’ve already talked about pizza, let’s talk about the other foods that are easy to get your hands on but can be bad for your health. There will be plenty of opportunities in college where there will be free food offered to guests and participants. Now, I’m not going to tell you to turn down free food, but make sure that you’re getting plenty of fruits, vegetables and other proteins in your diet as well.
The grocery store, WinCo, is located on Pullman road and that may help you when it comes to buying produce or other bulk items. If you don’t have a car, no worries. There is a bus route that takes you there every weekday between the hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Take advantage of the free bus ride when it comes to buying healthy groceries.
There are also other options for groceries in Moscow, including Wal-Mart, Rosauers, Safeway and the Moscow Co-op, so figure out which of these fits best for you and go with it. When you have a healthy diet, it’s easier to handle the pressures of school and the new environment you find yourself in.
There are new people all around, and you have the freedom to do whatever you feel like doing. But be aware of this freedom. If you take too big of a bite out of your freedom, there could be consequences. You could get in trouble with the university or with the law, or you could even get kicked out of the university entirely.
Surround yourself with people who want the best for you, with people that you can talk to about anything without judgment. Visit the Counseling & Testing Center whenever you feel doubts about yourself. Having a healthy emotional state can help immensely with school and help you find people that could be your friends for a lifetime.
College should be a great time in everyone’s lives. Handling money, food and pressure well could help you have an even better time while you’re here in Moscow. Visit some local coffee shops, take a stroll down Hello Walk and attend as many events on campus as possible. Somewhere, you’ll find something great.
Jessy Forsmo-Shadid can be reached at [email protected]