College can be overwhelming. Students find themselves faced with a demanding workload on top of unfamiliar social stressors — a recipe that often leads to long days and sleepless nights. It is therefore crucial to acknowledge the mannerisms of a campus life that can potentially serve to ease the anxiety brought on by the outset of a new semester.

Living on a college campus gives most students their first opportunity to be independent and autonomous. Without set bedtimes and mealtimes or the constant lingering presence of a parent, students are free to tailor their daily schedules in a way that best satisfies their individual preferences. Figuring out these preferences is the first step to getting into a groove that makes the daily grind more palatable. Are you a third floor library hermit, or do you need the company of friends to keep you focused? Do you work best listening to the buzz of conversation at Opus or the ambient trickle of the KJ water feature? These seemingly simple choices can shape students days in little ways that create an eventual sense of calm and control over their routines.

Perhaps the most comforting aspect of college is being surrounded by students in the same mindset who face similar stressors. Students know all too well the wave of relief that comes when their classmate also has not started that essay due in two days, and we can find solace in the constant presence of company in the library’s 24-hour room. The campus community is more than a collection of students in the same location; it is a assemblage of students in the same chapter of their lives. In times of seemingly unbearable responsibility, we can find peace in this ever-present network of support.