Starting academic studies can be a very exciting experience – and a bit stressful too. Especially here in Israel, with wars in the background and all kinds of constraints, it can be even more challenging. Don’t worry – we’ll equip you with a few points to consider and tools for getting off on the right foot.
Give yourself a break:
- Everyone has their own pace of adjusting to new situations. This year especially, give yourselves a little more time to “settle in”.
- It’s okay – and even essential – to ask for help when you need it. Don’t be too hard on yourselves.
- The people around you are sources of strength and support – lean on them to make things easier: friends to study with, help from teaching assistants, lecturers, recorded lessons and so on.
Support isn’t just important – it’s a must:
- Your family, and your friends from home or from work, are your backbone. Share your feelings with them, and ask for guidance or advice when needed – they are there for you 🙂
- It’s really important to know that every academic institution has a “Dean of Students Office”. This is a network of services designed to assist you in a variety of areas (most of them free of charge) – mental wellbeing, general assistance, emotional and academic support and more. – It’s there for you – don’t pass it up!
Friends from your studies are friends for life
No matter how, the social network you build with other students is one of the most important things in your studies. It will boost your sense of confidence and self-esteem, your sense of capability and belonging. Friends will help you get through your studies, in the hard moments as well as the good ones.
Here are a few ideas:
- Take part in your department’s orientation days and meetups
- Join study groups
- Join campus activities
- Start a conversation with the person sitting next to you
Give yourselves a boost – you deserve it!
- We all need a shot of encouragement now and then to push us forward, help lift our morale and keep our energy up. To do that, focus on the things that do you good: activities that lift your mood, interests outside your studies, interesting work.
- Hold on to the dream: remind yourselves, in a journal or in your head, why you decided to study. It can be an encouraging reminder for those moments when you need motivation to keep going.
Keep your balance: balance in life is always important. Especially in a time of change and stress. It’s important to keep a healthy balance between the demands of your studies, leisure time, and good sleep and nutrition. Make sure you don’t get “pulled” in one direction only, investing all your energy in it.
Important to remember! You are starting something new. On top of that, today especially, in a changing reality, you need to be flexible and creative – and sometimes also know how to compromise according to circumstances. What else? A bit of courage – trying new, less familiar paths. Anything that moves you closer to your goal.