Some Tips to Thrive in College
Advanced warning - this is a bit of a long post.
I can’t believe it, but today, I graduated with my Master's in Social Work. Next month, I’ll receive my junior social work license (they are called different things in different states) from my state Department of Public Health. That means I can start working towards my full clinical license by working full-time under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional. Like in most states, in my state, a fully licensed clinical social worker can provide therapy and diagnose mental health conditions.
Being a therapist and helping other neurodivergent girls and women has been my dream since I was eighteen when I decided to major in social work.
But this day wouldn’t have happened without all of my cheerleaders on my journey. I am forever grateful to my family, friends, and all the educators who have supported me through all the ups and downs, as well as my internship supervisors this year.
I’m not going to tell you that everything has been easy, but I will say that with hard work and the right support, it is possible to achieve your goals. And I also want to share some of the strategies that I’ve learned over the years from others much wiser than me that helped me reach this point in my education:
Get to how you work best. Regular reflection will help you know what you need to succeed, identify when you are struggling, and develop creative solutions.
Identify your support team, and don’t hesitate to reach out. Your team should include your family, friends, teachers, school support staff, and any mental health professionals or tutors you work with. It can help you write down some of your thoughts ahead of time.
Know what self-care looks like for you. Then, create specific goals. Self-care means doing what you need so you’re at your best physically, mentally/emotionally, academically, and socially. Self-care can look different depending on what’s possible during this phase in your life. You might not always have the time to workout four days a week. But always start with the basics - Move regularly. Eat a balanced diet. Sleep enough.
Choose the right school for you. You have every right to ask questions about how they can meet your needs. It’s also a good idea to get contact information for a current student in the same program you can ask questions that you aren’t comfortable asking school staff.
Find your tribe. Surround yourself with friends who get you and support you. Start by looking for people who share similar interests and aren’t scared to be themselves.
Turn feedback into opportunities for growth. Constructive criticism is constructive because it’s intended to help you. Ask questions about specific things you can do to better meet expectations. Create specific goals around them and write them down, then make sure you both have a copy to track your progress.
Learn to work with your brain. AKA study smarter, not harder.
Embrace your learning style. My grandfather would always say, “if one book doesn’t work, try another.” Don’t be afraid to try a different approach if something just isn’t working for it. It’s OK if your approach isn’t like everyone else’s. You learned the material. Who cares if you need to highlight full sentences to pay attention, listen to an audio version of the textbook, or stay a little longer after class to have your teacher explain things a different way? (By the way, they often take it as a compliment when you come to office hours in college).
Find a way of planning and managing time that works for you. Experiment. But once you find what works, stick with it. If it stops working, try something else.
Take breaks and have fun. Studies show you’ll actually learn better.
Find your educational ally. Everyone needs someone to help them advocate for their needs, and the same applies to school accommodations. Work with a teacher or specialist at school who really understands how your brain works to discuss what’ll help you succeed and make sure that gets on your accommodation plan, and know it’s OK to have them help you advocate for your needs.
But also learn to advocate for yourself. In college, special education services usually ask students to hand over and explain their accommodation letters. I usually take the opportunity to meet with them and give more detail. Your accommodations are an outline of how your brilliant brain works, but you are much more than that.