Health
Mental
“Embrace failure. You want to be bothered by your failure. But when you fail, use it to clear rather than cloud your vision. Keep the big picture in mind - in this whole world, you getting a C is not detrimental. Reflect. I wanted an A, but got a C. What was lacking? A good study strategy? Effort? After reflection, create a plan to do better next time." OT
"Freshman come in with sense of urgency, like they’ve ‘got to climb the ladder’. ‘Oh I have to get this internship.’ But the ladder’s not real.
If your dormmate wants to take 21 units, that’s fine. But don’t feel like a slacker because you’re not. Know that in taking 21 units, like in everything else, there’s an opportunity cost. Be aware of what you’re trading to be able to take 21 units - maybe it's sleep, maybe extracurriculars - and determine if that’s a trade you want to make.
Sometimes our thoughts on how we’re being perceived lead us to push ourselves. Don’t overwhelm yourself for the sake of a reputation. People may comment ‘Oh she’s taking 21 units, she must be really smart.’ But it doesn’t really matter to them. At the end of the night, they’ll go to bed while you’re still up working on homework from your 21 units.
Maybe you want to take 12 units and really let all of the material you’re learning sink in, and participate in extracurriculars on the side. That’s fine." OT
"A lot of people stress themselves throughout life without realizing it’s unnecessary. When they’re in school it’s ‘I have to earn really good grades, this is important.’ When they’re older, ‘I have to do great at work, because I have a family depending on me; this is really important.’ Relax, there’s no need to stress." OT
“If you don’t get every problem on this one PSet, your life will not end. Your grade will not drop from an A to an A-.
Don’t put yourself in the position where every moment is crucial to your academic career - by say procrastinating or taking too many units.” Phil
“Reflect. If you’re not reflecting, you’re not optimizing your life.” Yaya
“Try not to stress too much! Realize that Stanford is going to be a challenge due to academics, relationships, athletics, or something else. In order to not only be successful, but also happy, try to live in the moment. Take things as they come. Learn from mistakes.
Also know that things may not be as they appear. No one’s life is perfect. Everyone struggles. Whatever you're going through you're not alone.” Kristyn
“Only do things that you want to, that make you happy. Don’t do things because you think you have to or because they appear to be the ‘right next step’. There are so many opportunities, so many different paths of success, that you may as well take the ones that interest you." Jordan
"At some point you will feel you're not good enough. You’re not alone; I feel that all the time. Sometimes it’s ‘I didn’t start my own company when I was 5’, or ‘I just failed my chem 33 exam.’ At those times, I remind myself that I am my own unique combination. Michelle may be better than me at consulting and Mandarin. If I compare myself to Michelle in her Mandarin ability of course I'll be frustrated. The thing to keep in mind is only I am an expert at being me. No other person’s experience is identical to mine, and since I am the only one dealing with my exact challenges and responsibilities, no one does me better than me.” Jordan
“Everyone at Stanford is going through something. I had so many of the same conversations this past year. Basically, ‘Everyone else is doing great things. I’m losing, I’m not as great as everyone else.’ Duck syndrome is hella real. A lot of my friends utilized CAPS. Stanford needs to do a better job with it. The wait time is ridiculous; there aren’t enough counselors.
Don’t compare yourself to other people because that’s where the stress stems from. Determine what you want to do, make a plan, and do it. You can look to see what others are doing to draw inspiration, but don’t compare yourself.
A lot of people try to do ‘amazing things’, like work at Google, in order to stand out. It’s ironic that everyone is doing the same things to stand out. Those who I’ve seen stand out the most did their own thing, did what made them happy. Do you booboo.” Karl
“In a way it's ridiculous to compare yourself to others as you don’t see their full story; you don’t have enough information to make comparisons.” Yaya
“Duck syndrome has not been my experience at all. All my friends are pretty open. Everyone has been honest with the amount of work they put in. I think that’s a stereotype that people outside Stanford have made up.” Mark
“I’ve read that you should find 3 things, one that keeps you paid, one that keeps you physically healthy, and one that allows you to express your creativity.” Phil
“Block off some happy time, during which you can watch TV or something.” Jordan
“Get off campus with friends sometime. Rent a zipcar and go to In and Out. Or bike to a restaurant in Palo Alto.” Yaya
“Don’t be afraid to bike off campus and be alone.” Tony
“Go to places you think you’d like.” Phil
“Winter quarter is rough... just trust me on this one.” Kristyn
Support
“Your RAs want to be friends with you. Make friends with them so they can identify when you’re not ok. It’s partially their job to ensure that you are mentally well.
And be close enough to your RAs that you’d feel comfortable seeking them out.” Jordan
“Ideally the freshman staff will try to find out if you need help. But they may not ask the right questions to get to the heart of the matter or they may have no idea that something’s even wrong. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.” Phil
“A lot of people’s appetite decreases because they’re in a new environment and feel homesick. Some people’s appetite increases. Everyone reacts differently to a new environment. It’ll get better. Make sure you’re taking proactive steps to adapt. Don’t be afraid to go to your RAs and talk to them about it.
If you have any psychological issues, anxiety, depression, loneliness, not making enough friends, know that nothing will fix itself unless you’re taking proactive steps. And it’s ok if those steps are baby steps. Seek help. If depressed, find a hobby where you feel at home. The quarter system is super fast paced. If things aren’t going well mentally, it’s hard to keep up.” Mark
“People do wanna be there for you, but you have to let them in. Be there for others too. Personally, I had separate people I would talk to separate issues about.” Phil
“Ombuds is a confidential service. You can seek it if say you think your teacher is sexually harassing you; you believe you’ve been treated unfairly because of gender; you believe some Stanford policy has been applied unfairly, those types of situations.” Jordan
Physical
“Beware of the Freshman 15. Regardless of how many people say that it’s a myth, it's not. Weight gain in college seems natural, especially if you're over-indulging in the all-you-can-eat dining halls. If you don't want to go home during break heftier than you left, there's a simple solution: watch your portion sizes and only eat when you’re hungry. Also hit up the awesome gym facilities at Stanford. Not only will you run into/meet lots of people but you might find working out to be lots of fun!” Kristyn
“Ya, I discovered late in the game that the gyms have workout stations have TV screens!” Yaya
Mental
“Embrace failure. You want to be bothered by your failure. But when you fail, use it to clear rather than cloud your vision. Keep the big picture in mind - in this whole world, you getting a C is not detrimental. Reflect. I wanted an A, but got a C. What was lacking? A good study strategy? Effort? After reflection, create a plan to do better next time." OT
"Freshman come in with sense of urgency, like they’ve ‘got to climb the ladder’. ‘Oh I have to get this internship.’ But the ladder’s not real.
If your dormmate wants to take 21 units, that’s fine. But don’t feel like a slacker because you’re not. Know that in taking 21 units, like in everything else, there’s an opportunity cost. Be aware of what you’re trading to be able to take 21 units - maybe it's sleep, maybe extracurriculars - and determine if that’s a trade you want to make.
Sometimes our thoughts on how we’re being perceived lead us to push ourselves. Don’t overwhelm yourself for the sake of a reputation. People may comment ‘Oh she’s taking 21 units, she must be really smart.’ But it doesn’t really matter to them. At the end of the night, they’ll go to bed while you’re still up working on homework from your 21 units.
Maybe you want to take 12 units and really let all of the material you’re learning sink in, and participate in extracurriculars on the side. That’s fine." OT
"A lot of people stress themselves throughout life without realizing it’s unnecessary. When they’re in school it’s ‘I have to earn really good grades, this is important.’ When they’re older, ‘I have to do great at work, because I have a family depending on me; this is really important.’ Relax, there’s no need to stress." OT
“If you don’t get every problem on this one PSet, your life will not end. Your grade will not drop from an A to an A-.
Don’t put yourself in the position where every moment is crucial to your academic career - by say procrastinating or taking too many units.” Phil
“Reflect. If you’re not reflecting, you’re not optimizing your life.” Yaya
“Try not to stress too much! Realize that Stanford is going to be a challenge due to academics, relationships, athletics, or something else. In order to not only be successful, but also happy, try to live in the moment. Take things as they come. Learn from mistakes.
Also know that things may not be as they appear. No one’s life is perfect. Everyone struggles. Whatever you're going through you're not alone.” Kristyn
“Only do things that you want to, that make you happy. Don’t do things because you think you have to or because they appear to be the ‘right next step’. There are so many opportunities, so many different paths of success, that you may as well take the ones that interest you." Jordan
"At some point you will feel you're not good enough. You’re not alone; I feel that all the time. Sometimes it’s ‘I didn’t start my own company when I was 5’, or ‘I just failed my chem 33 exam.’ At those times, I remind myself that I am my own unique combination. Michelle may be better than me at consulting and Mandarin. If I compare myself to Michelle in her Mandarin ability of course I'll be frustrated. The thing to keep in mind is only I am an expert at being me. No other person’s experience is identical to mine, and since I am the only one dealing with my exact challenges and responsibilities, no one does me better than me.” Jordan
“Everyone at Stanford is going through something. I had so many of the same conversations this past year. Basically, ‘Everyone else is doing great things. I’m losing, I’m not as great as everyone else.’ Duck syndrome is hella real. A lot of my friends utilized CAPS. Stanford needs to do a better job with it. The wait time is ridiculous; there aren’t enough counselors.
Don’t compare yourself to other people because that’s where the stress stems from. Determine what you want to do, make a plan, and do it. You can look to see what others are doing to draw inspiration, but don’t compare yourself.
A lot of people try to do ‘amazing things’, like work at Google, in order to stand out. It’s ironic that everyone is doing the same things to stand out. Those who I’ve seen stand out the most did their own thing, did what made them happy. Do you booboo.” Karl
“In a way it's ridiculous to compare yourself to others as you don’t see their full story; you don’t have enough information to make comparisons.” Yaya
“Duck syndrome has not been my experience at all. All my friends are pretty open. Everyone has been honest with the amount of work they put in. I think that’s a stereotype that people outside Stanford have made up.” Mark
“I’ve read that you should find 3 things, one that keeps you paid, one that keeps you physically healthy, and one that allows you to express your creativity.” Phil
“Block off some happy time, during which you can watch TV or something.” Jordan
“Get off campus with friends sometime. Rent a zipcar and go to In and Out. Or bike to a restaurant in Palo Alto.” Yaya
“Don’t be afraid to bike off campus and be alone.” Tony
“Go to places you think you’d like.” Phil
“Winter quarter is rough... just trust me on this one.” Kristyn
Support
“Your RAs want to be friends with you. Make friends with them so they can identify when you’re not ok. It’s partially their job to ensure that you are mentally well.
And be close enough to your RAs that you’d feel comfortable seeking them out.” Jordan
“Ideally the freshman staff will try to find out if you need help. But they may not ask the right questions to get to the heart of the matter or they may have no idea that something’s even wrong. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.” Phil
“A lot of people’s appetite decreases because they’re in a new environment and feel homesick. Some people’s appetite increases. Everyone reacts differently to a new environment. It’ll get better. Make sure you’re taking proactive steps to adapt. Don’t be afraid to go to your RAs and talk to them about it.
If you have any psychological issues, anxiety, depression, loneliness, not making enough friends, know that nothing will fix itself unless you’re taking proactive steps. And it’s ok if those steps are baby steps. Seek help. If depressed, find a hobby where you feel at home. The quarter system is super fast paced. If things aren’t going well mentally, it’s hard to keep up.” Mark
“People do wanna be there for you, but you have to let them in. Be there for others too. Personally, I had separate people I would talk to separate issues about.” Phil
“Ombuds is a confidential service. You can seek it if say you think your teacher is sexually harassing you; you believe you’ve been treated unfairly because of gender; you believe some Stanford policy has been applied unfairly, those types of situations.” Jordan
Physical
“Beware of the Freshman 15. Regardless of how many people say that it’s a myth, it's not. Weight gain in college seems natural, especially if you're over-indulging in the all-you-can-eat dining halls. If you don't want to go home during break heftier than you left, there's a simple solution: watch your portion sizes and only eat when you’re hungry. Also hit up the awesome gym facilities at Stanford. Not only will you run into/meet lots of people but you might find working out to be lots of fun!” Kristyn
“Ya, I discovered late in the game that the gyms have workout stations have TV screens!” Yaya