Change is simply a part of life and one must learn to deal or ultimately be left behind.

That is the mantra for me this week.

As I enter my final semester of college, I am bombarded every waking moment by change.

A few changes for me this semester are learning a new class schedule, adjusting to two new work schedules, attempting to master the new layout program for the newspaper that you are reading right now and getting all my t’s crossed and i’s dotted before I receive that expensive piece of paper for which I have worked so hard for the past four and a half years.

For freshmen, I know this time brings great uncertainty and great discovery.

I remember my first week of college and it wasn’t as bad as they make it out to be on the silver screen, even though members of a UTM fraternity were standing on top of their mansion screaming bright and early at 7 a.m. for no apparent reason. But still, that did not scare me away, just deterred me from going to that particular house.

One thing that I did learn rather quickly was to take advantage of all that was offered to me because I knew that five years down the road I did not want to be a contestant in the “coulda, woulda, shoulda” game.

To all UTM students: Take advantage of the next few weeks; it is the “honeymoon time” of the semester.

Here is why the first third of the semester is called the “honeymoon time” of each semester: Things are going along smoothly (sometimes too smoothly) and no major papers or projects are due. It is during this period that people tend to have more fun. But come late September, things will increase at a high rate of speed.

Don’t fret; fall break will be along soon, then Thanksgiving break, and then Christmas break, or, for me and other December graduates, graduation time.

As you walk across campus, do not forget who you are. Try anything once, unless it is illegal or against your morals or beliefs, otherwise, everything else is fair game.

At the end of the day, you are the one who must go to bed and try to sleep. If you aren’t happy, all that pondering will make you weak and weary (to paraphrase Edgar Allan Poe).

Don’t worry about making others happy. They are there and you are here. Plus, no matter how many times you get written up or arrested, you are the one who will have to live with your mistakes, not your family. The important thing is to be happy.

Hopefully, by experimenting a bit, you won’t get kicked out of UTM. Stick around for a while. This place has a habit of growing on you. I should know.

After years of complaining about coming from a small town and then going to college in a different small town, I strangely find myself sneaking back home or finding a reason to come back here.

College life is a huge adjustment. Many students go from having parents who do everything for them such as cook, clean, do laundry, grocery shop and make their beds to all of a sudden having to do it on their own. It may seem like a huge change but it isn’t really. Just keep a budget and a daily schedule and you will be fine.

College and change have a lot in common. If you feel like you need to get away for a couple of hours, break away from your dorm room or apartment and go explore Martin. This may be a small town but it is extremely beautiful. Feel free to take a stroll around any park in Martin. The fresh air will do your brain some good.

If you start to feel overwhelmed, do not hesitate to visit the friendly staff at the Counseling Center in the UC for a chat.

Yes, you can talk over your problems with a friend, but that friend may spread your secret around, which will not happen at the Counseling Center. The staff is here to help make the transition into college as smooth as possible. The visits are free and confidential.

These times are a changing and, as Gail Sheehy said, “If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.”

Since this is the first week of classes, one would think that it is too early to have anything to gripe about. That thought was abolished when the new fire alarm in Cooper Hall went off at 2 a.m. Monday.

I awoke to this loud honking noise. Once I figured out what it was, I procrastinated about getting out because I wanted to be as close to my bed as possible.

I stumbled out of the building and stood outside for about 15 to 30 minutes along with all the other residents of Cooper.

After waiting outside for someone to let all of us in (since the doors are locked around midnight), an R.A. finally comes to the door and informs us all that it was a malfunction.

Well, Cooper housing staff, please don’t let this “malfunction” happen again. If need be, take notes from the Janet Jackson fiasco that occurred during the Super Bowl halftime show.

I, as well as others, need my sleep to work two jobs, attend class and all the other activities that fill up my day.

Labor Day weekend is almost upon us. Get out there and have some fun!