The Class of 2022 has been busy learning the ins and outs of college life over the course of the past month. With three weeks of classes down and a workload that continues to grow, first-year students are still adjusting to the transition from high school to college and are exploring their newfound freedom. Such changes can be liberating for students who are used to highly-structured high school schedules, but they also present time management challenges.

Bradley Wu, a first-year computer science and biomedical engineering double major, appreciated the brief respite students experience at the beginning of the year before classes reach their full difficulty.

“So far, my time management hasn’t been very good,” he said. “Although I know I have to make it better, right now, my classes don’t require too much time commitment, so I am able to procrastinate.”

Wu made it clear that he wanted to reform his habits and is eager to change, stating that he plans to “probably back off on movies [and] try to go to bed before 2 a.m. every day and wake up early enough to eat breakfast in the morning.”

While these may sound like small changes, the New York Times states that developing a morning routine is actually quite important and can be beneficial for increased productivity throughout the day.

A new academic environment is not the only change first-year students must adjust to. With only 18 percent of the incoming class hailing from Ohio, the weather is sure to shock those living in Cleveland for the first time. As summer comes to a close, Cleveland has already been hit by intermittent showers and thunderstorms.

“I’m realizing I’m not prepared for winter,” said California-native and first-year student Lauren Sharkey. “I’ve learned that it’s not always sunny and that I shouldn’t feel too cold right now because it only gets worse. I need to go out and buy winter clothing.”

Sharkey also acknowledged the frequently overcast weather is something that people from warmer climates may have some difficulties getting used to and could lead to lowered spirits.

Despite varying levels of productivity and acclimation, it is clear that the first-year class is cognizant of the challenges that lie ahead. While guacamole chicken burritos at The Den by Denny’s can help them cope, new students are better served by their resourcefulness and determination—the ingredients for a successful year at Case Western Reserve University.