Life Advice

Hello everyone! I know it’s been a long time since there has been a Life Advice, so we thought we’d bring it back for this week! Now that we’ve approached the middle of spring term, I thought you guys might like to hear the questions people have been asking about spring and the answers I have for them.

When is the proper time to do your first bridge jump?

Seeing as bridge jumping is not allowed, my answer to this would be never. But, if for some reason in some hypothetical scenario one were to find themselves overcome by the desire to go bridge jumping, I would say the best time to go is towards the middle of May. The weather is just warm enough that you won’t freeze in the river.

How do you stay focused on doing your work on Sundays during the spring when everyone seems to be outside playing on the quad?

It’s definitely really hard to stay in the library and work away on a history paper (@333) while watching games of Frisbee and Spikeball being played all over the South Side quad, but I think the best way to combat this cabin fever is getting your work done as quickly as possible. I’ve found that the more efficient I am with getting through my work, the more relaxing of a Sunday I can have. Once you finish all of your work, it’s easier to go outside and not feel guilty about it, but at the same time, I think it’s important to make some time for fun too. I try to do my best to get outside and do something fun on Sundays, whether that be playing a round of KanJam or just going on a run because it is hard to stay inside all day. Ultimately, I think just locking in and getting your work done so you can get outside as quickly as possible is the best way to handle Sundays, but I think no matter where you are in your work, it’s important to take some study breaks.

What are teas and how do you navigate asking someone to one and being asked to one by someone?

Teas are basically events put on by dorms where you eat finger food and take a lot of pictures. I personally think tea is the most fun when you go with someone you know or get along with really well because they can last upwards of two and a half hours and that’s a lot of time to try and make awkward small talk. If someone you don’t know too well asks you to tea or you end up going to your own tea with someone you don’t know all that well, don’t worry about it. I struggle with small talk so going with someone I don’t really know would be hard for me, but I think it can also be a great opportunity to get to know someone in a fun and social setting. Your experience at tea really depends a lot on how comfortable you feel with whoever you’re with, but at the end of the day you most likely will have a good time just dressing up, eating food and taking pictures, if not with your date too.

How do I make sure to finish the year in a place I feel good about?

I think one of the most important things about spring term is making sure you balance your work with also having fun. It’s easy towards the end of the year to get caught up in the nice weather and the events on campus and not be as mindful of keeping up with your work, but I think being conscience of the fact that there is still work to be done during spring term will keep you on the right track. But, like I said before, having fun is important in having a positive experience at Exeter. I think the key to finishing spring term in a good place is staying on top of your work while also making time for your friends and doing things that make you happy.

I hope you all enjoyed this little dose of spring advice! Keep working hard, we’re almost to the end of this term!

-Bella <3