November brings a lot of changes to campus. It could be anything – the weather, the general atmosphere of campus, or even a change in friends, opinions or goals. Change is a part of life and is necessary for us to grow as individuals. We learn more and change the way we think about certain things. It may not be good or bad, but it is essential to growing up.

For me, these changes are definitely a step in the right direction. I’m beginning to make choices about what I want to do after graduation, even though it’s still more than a year away. I’ve decided what I want to study in graduate school – arts management! – but I don’t have many more specifics than that. However, I am now realizing that I need to refocus my life so that all my actions are geared toward a good GPA and strong résumé.

I’m putting the majority of my efforts into my classes, which are sometimes more difficult than I thought they would be. I feel like doing well in my classes proves that I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing with my time here at Gannon. It’s easy to get discouraged after a really hard test, but I’m doing my best to keep moving forward and succeed at what I do.

Setting goals for myself – whether it’s to ace my next management exam, memorize my lines for “Henry IV” or just remember to do my dishes – helps me keep my stress levels as low as possible during a busy semester. If I have to do something, I write it down in my planner or I make three different lists of the same things that I have to do in a week. A little bit of organization goes a long way.