_{Text and photographs by Isabella Trew}

Becoming a college student is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Listening to people’s stories about their college usually goes like this: “My golden years where it was all about fun….” 
Well, there is definitely something that we all avoid talking about: the struggle to cope with our studies and personal life.
However, becoming a good student is not just a “one-time thing”; it’s a lifestyle. 
A pair of motivational YouTube videos won’t be enough to make a radical improvement in your college life: as always, consistency is the key.
Here are a few tips I follow as a first-year college student.

1. A GOOD SLEEPING SCHEDULE

Be attentive to the ongoing events planned in the pubs and gigs around your city.
It is a must to attend every single one of them.
On the other hand, sleeping will become less of a priority once you share a house with another eight people and three pigeons.
Nighttime always seems to be the right moment for an existential conversation.

2. KEEP YOUR SPACE ORGANIZED

You must place your items and thoughts in your bedroom because this is where most of your “get-togethers” will happen, especially those long marathons of The Office. Let’s not forget the essentials… speakers. Have them play Red Hot Chilli Peppers on your bedside table while you do some Sunday chores.

3. FIND YOUR PEAK TIMES 

We all have a productive time and a very unproductive time. Find the moment you feel the most comfortable and uplifted. You’ll need to spend at least 15 minutes in the sunshine for this. It would be even better if you managed to find a spot close to the river to photosynthesize.

4. MAKE SURE TO EXCHANGE KNOWLEDGE 

A meme never hurt anybody. Share the memes that made you laugh that day with your tutors – they will soon start to like you. Besides, you’ll probably learn more in a simple 5-minute break than in a 2-hour lecture. 

5. CREATIVE MATERIALS FOR YOUR ASSIGNMENTS

Being a student seems to go hand in hand with being short on cash. No wonder students get credit for their creativity. Why waste that old shirt when you can use it as a tablecloth? Or why not use that rubber band to secure a leaky sink? As a student, I can say we love upcycling and second-hand resources, just as long as we don’t pay for them. 

_{Isabella Trew is an Arts Curating undergraduate student at Istituto Marangoni Firenze}