In the first week of this semester, one of my Latin students came to me in something of a panic. She seemed convinced that she would not be able to swing the work, was apprehensive about crashing and burning in the class, and was seriously considering dropping the course. This was something of a puzzle since she had taken several years of Latin in high school and been so successful at it that she was an award-winner. And yet her response was not that unusual. Experience suggests that there are two types of students who panic at the beginning of the semester. The first type has every reason to panic – they have not made the adjustment to college, generally have not taken control of their lives (it’s actually relatively rare, I think, that students fail in college because they don’t have the brain wattage; it is usually a lack of discipline, energy, engagement, or something of that sort, that dooms them). The second type is entirely the opposite – they are among the very strongest in the class and do not think that they are adjusting well to new circumstances and expectations. It’s all in their heads, that is, although that doesn’t make it any less real. I often teach a first-semester course in our Honors Program (it’s great, by the way), for example, and most of the Honors students who come to me in a panic in the first couple of weeks are outstanding and have not the slightest reason to worry. A piece of advice, then, for anyone new to college. If you feel overwhelmed and are apprehensive that you heading for disaster, calm down and go see your instructor. It may simply be your high expectations and the rather trying adjustment to a new learning and living environment. By the way, my Latin student is doing marvelously and, as far as I can tell, is at ease. Bravo!