The Ultimate Back to School Guide + Advice and Tips to have the Best Semester Ever

Guess what time it is? It is time to go back to school! As I gear up for my last official first day of school in undergrad, I can’t help but look at all my first day of school pictures with so much nostalgia. Looking at the past use to make me really upset. I use to always have thoughts like, “Look how innocent she is” and “Look at how confident and excited she is. I’m not like that anymore.” But now, when I see old pictures, the first thing that pops into my head is “Wow, look how much she has grown.” And it is honestly so true!

I have always wanted Blessed Brilliant Beautiful to serve as a resource for young women to realize that they are not alone. Whether they need help with their last break up or need reminded of how strong they are, I never want to lose that original purpose for this blog.

So today on the blog I am sharing with you some advice and tips I have learned throughout my three years of college to start off your semester strong. I hope you enjoy and please, feel free to comment below questions or comments you might have! I hope this makes your college experience a little more blessed, brilliant, and beautiful! Love y’all!

Creating the Most Perfect Living Space

Your dorm/apartment is going to be your home away from home. Some people think that it is “doing the most” to decorate your living space to the max, but if you are like me go to school far away from home, decorating is essential to limit those inevitable homesick break downs that occur during the semester. Here are some of my decorating tips:

Pick a color scheme-my favorite part of my house is my color scheme! Everything from my bedroom to the accent pillows on my couch follow a blush pink and gold color scheme.  I have had the same color scheme since freshman year so most of my decorations are the same. My main decorations are blush pink (blankets, shower curtain, rugs, etc.) while my smaller accessories are gold (wall accents, vases, small bathroom face mirror, etc.). I find that having a color scheme just makes things a lot neater and allows you to express your personality into your home decor.

Get Things that Bring You Joy –  You really don’t need too many decorations because you probably will be living in a small space. Get things that really speak to you and bring you joy. Like for me, I like a lot of live plants around. Whether it is buying fresh flowers or actually taking care of a plant, it always makes my rooms feel so much more alive and beautiful. Also, to save money, check TJ MAXX, Marshalls, and Homegoods for super cute things that don’t cost an arm and a leg. These stores are often overlooked and have similar things to our favorite stores like Target!

Lastly, make sure you are purchasing things that last. Most of the things that I have now as a senior, I have had since my freshman year. Get things that last and make you feel cozy! Some nights are going to be hard at school so having a nice welcoming place to come home to is ALWAYS a good thing. Here are some of my favorites that make my living space home-y.

Living Your Best Life in College

My favorite part of college has been how much I have grown as a woman in my faith, confidence, self-awareness, and so much more. For me, starting off the semester right means creating a schedule for myself. Yes, a schedule. Welcome to the adult life where you are your very own assistant.

My best semesters in college have been the ones where I have been a super planner. By that, I mean every hour of my day is planned. Yes, from when I wake to when I sleep, I know exactly where I should be and what I should be doing. In the beginning it is a little annoying, BUT after you get the hang of it, you develop a routine. That routine leads to consistency which is one of the stepping-stones for success. That’s the goal here, right? Here is what is in my daily week schedule.

• Wake Up Time
• Gym Time
• Classes
• Study Time (THIS NEEDS TO BE PLANNED. BLOCK OUT A TIME EVERY DAY.)
• Extracurriculars (Clubs, dates, etc.)
• Volunteering
• Time with God
• Bed Time

Not only do I recommend having a routine for your classes and daily life, but also for the little things like skin care and makeup. Depending on how much one or the other is important to you, make sure that is planned into your schedule. For me, during the school year, my makeup routine is no more than 10 minutes. I would rather spend that extra time eating a good breakfast or spending a little time with God in the morning. I’ll write a post on my simple college makeup routine and planner later this month. Here are some products I am currently loving!

Ohh and that reminds me, do not forget to spend time with God once school starts. Whether it is doing a devotional or listening to a podcasts on your walk to school, I promise you that you are going to save yourself so much stress and worry three weeks into the semester when things get crazy. For me college has allowed me to grow so much in my faith. Mom and Dad weren’t here to always tell me to go to church or pray so I have found my faith being so much more genuine and honest. Here is what I will be using this semester to stay close to God.

Books: Girl, Wash Your Face, She Believes: Embracing the Life You Were Created to Live 

Podcasts: The Heart Lessons, Set Apart Girl, Cultivating the Lovely

Bible Study Material: College: Real & Relatable Devotionals for Every College Girl , She Reads Truth Devotionals 

“You Know Why I Am Here”: Crushing it in the Classroom 

At this point, you should know the type of learner you are. If you don’t, try spending that first week filling out tests like this one so you can understand what is the best way for you to study. For me, I am very visual. This means I like to watch lots of videos of particular topics and then I like to rewrite my classroom notes in colorful pens. Staying consistent in how you take notes/study is going to really help with staying on top of your classwork. It can be so easy to get behind. Remember to prioritize what is important. Here is how I like to get ready for the classroom:

Pick a Team: Team Typed Notes or Team Written Notes– try not to switch back and forth between typing and writing notes in one class (you can switch between other courses) because it becomes harder to consolidate them when it comes to finals. I do have a friend that types EVERYTHING. For her classes she finds it best to use one document and adds to the document each class that way everything is in one place. Microsoft Notebook is another resource that I have used if you want to type your notes. Like an actual notebook, it keeps all of your typed documents in one spot.

Team Written Notes? Me too. – High school that binder up with getting dividers if you decide to write out your notes. Use different colored pens and make sure you are writing your notes so that YOU can understand them. I like having different binders for each class and separating the tabs into different sections. Most of the time the sections consist of: Notes, Homework, Recitations, Quizzes/Tests, and Extra Practice. I always have my professor’s office hours in the front of the notebook along with a to-do list. I personally like the old school way of taking notes because writing out notes have been proven to help with memory retention. Anything that helps, right?

Find YOUR Study Spot – If you know you like studying in a quiet place and your school library isn’t quiet, don’t study there. Also, in your daily schedule, you MUST block out times where you are dedicating to studying everyday. When you dedicate yourself to studying just a little every day, it doesn’t make you fall so far behind when you do want to take a day off to go on a date or do something fun with friends. I actually learned this strategy in my MCAT class this summer.  Also, don’t forget to try to make learning fun. Try not to have such a negative outlook on school. Positivity is so important for a successful school year!

I hope you have enjoyed this post! To all of those students heading back to school, I wish you the best of luck this semester. Stay close to God, call your family, don’t compare yourself to others, and don’t ever give up on yourself. This is about making yourself resilient and strong. Remember, you are blessed, brilliant, and beautiful. Happy Back to School!

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” -James 1:12

TD <3

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