Somewhere between chemistry exams, late night studying, and trying to survive Upstate New York weather, I’m slowly learning that college cannot only be about grades.
This week I went to two beautiful locations that are within a 15 minute radius South of Clarkson University. These were Stone Valley Trail and Allen Falls, and honestly, it was exactly what I needed after the semester. The waterfalls, the trails, and the fresh air reminded me there’s more to college than stress and assignments.
Coming to Clarkson as an international student from Jamaica studying biochemistry to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor was exciting, but also overwhelming at times. There were weeks where I felt like all I did was study, stress, repeat. Especially taking courses like Calculus and General Chemistry, it can start to feel like your entire life revolves around exams and grades.
One thing I learned this semester is that studying harder does not always mean studying better. At first, I spent way too much time rereading notes and highlighting everything. By the end of the semester, I realized practice problems and active recall helped me far more. For chemistry especially, repeated working through questions made a huge difference compared to simply understanding the notes.
Some things that genuinely helped me survive first year:
● going to tutoring instead of struggling alone
● reviewing topics before lectures
● taking breaks before burnout hits
● studying with friends sometimes
● getting outside when stress becomes too much
There are honestly so many things incoming students don’t know until they experience Clarkson for themselves.
Things I wish I knew before Clarkson
You don’t need to have everything figured out immediately. The first semester can feel overwhelming, especially balancing difficult courses, friendships, homesickness, and adjusting to a completely different environment.
What NOT to do during winter
Do not underestimate Potsdam winter at all. Buy proper boots early, layer properly, and never wait until the last minute to walk to class in snow.
Best study habits that helped me
Practice problems helped me more than rereading notes. I also learned that taking breaks before burnout is way better than pushing until your brain stops functioning completely.
Places freshmen should explore
Getting off campus genuinely helps mentally. Places like Stone Valley Trail and Allen Falls reminded me that there’s more to college than assignments and exams. Some of my best moments this year were not even academic. They were random conversations, cooking meals for people I care about, exploring new places around Potsdam, and realizing I’m slowly building a life here.
Stone Valley and Allen Falls reminded me that sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is pause for a second and breathe.
Anyways, here are some pictures from this week.
