Welcome back to Fanshawe College. Honestly, I feel like I am going to start each one of my President's Perspectives with that saying. I keep forgetting how many times I may have already welcomed you to Fanshawe.

So it's the first full week back. It almost appears as though there are more students now than ever before. Though this could be only because it was so quiet this summer, I still feel as though the A/C isn't working and the number of bodies is slowly making me melt into my office chair.

What is on my mind this week is actually something that was going during the Week of Welcome. And since I have done it before, it wasn't anything to stress about. The police visit, the Student Union puts on a show, we take people on tours, Howard Rundle (Fanshawe President) talks to the students, and much more. But there was something in Howard's speech that hit me this year. He talks about being a “do-er”. And how when you get to college, there is so much going on, that unfortunately no matter how much you did or handled in the past, you cannot do everything at college. You need to pick and choose what you participate in. It's funny, because when he was saying that, I kept thinking how I refuse to believe that. I think that with good time management you can do everything at college. I have always been a do-er. I tried everything and wanted to make it all work. Time management is pretty much my forte. If there was a post-secondary credential in time management, and you were in the class, you'd be saying “Good morning Dr. Christine Thomson” because I would totally be teaching it.

But now the students are back. And today I was looking forward to a day of catch up from a long week and weekend of residence events, and have a quieter day in the office. But I haven't sat down yet except to write this. And I can't stop thinking about all of the things I have to do. And how I have no time to do them. And how I really can't stay past 7p.m. tonight. And how come no one else looks as stressed as me?!?!?!

As smart as I may look, and as time management inclined as I may feel I am, Howard may really be onto something here. Even the best of us cannot do everything at college. It is just too much and there are too many things going on. Though many students have trouble even putting down their beer to take part in one event, the rest of us can't wait to get onto the next activity.

My advice to you is: Pick and choose your events wisely. You want to be able to do everything, but if you burn the candles at both ends you are only going to start resenting doing anything at all. And then you won't be having fun no matter what you are doing.

Oh Howard you are so wise. But why did you made me suffer through trying everything and waiting until September to tell me it wasn't possible, I have no idea. Good thing I still have time to brainstorm how to make lines shorter for student cards!