15 Tips for Students
Hard-won wisdom from Stuart Williams — 11 years as an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston, 8 years on the School of Business Board, 5 years on its Executive Committee, and a proud CofC parent. In 2023, the City of Charleston proclaimed March 29th as Stuart M. Williams Day.
Learn more about Stuart WilliamsWake Up at the Same Time Every Day
No matter when your classes start, establish a consistent wake-up time. This single habit regulates your internal clock, improves sleep quality, boosts focus, and sets a disciplined tone for your entire day. Your body and mind will thank you — and so will your GPA.
Make Your Bed
It sounds trivial, but making your bed each morning is your first accomplishment of the day. It creates momentum, brings order to your space, and reinforces the mindset that small disciplines compound into big results. As Admiral McRaven said: if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.
Take Care of Your Teeth
College is stressful and routines slip. Brush and floss twice daily. Dental problems are painful, expensive, and can derail a semester. Good oral hygiene is also tied to overall health, confidence in social settings, and self-respect. It's a small investment with outsized returns.
There's No Such Thing as a Dumb Question
Instead of falling behind, simply ask. Professors, TAs, and peers are there to help. The students who raise their hands are the ones who succeed. Silence breeds confusion; questions breed understanding. Your question is likely one ten other students are too afraid to ask.
Find a Good Mentor
A mentor — whether a professor, a Sentinel, an upperclassman, or a professional in your field — accelerates your growth in ways no textbook can. They offer perspective, open doors, and help you avoid mistakes they've already made. Seek one out early; don't wait until senior year. This is the heart of the Sunday Sentinels™ model.
Study Two Hours for Every Hour in Class
The golden rule of college academics: for every hour you spend in lecture, plan on two hours of focused study outside class. A 15-credit semester means roughly 30 hours of independent study per week. Treat your coursework like a full-time job and you'll never fall behind.
Explore Beyond Campus and King Street
Charleston is surrounded by incredible areas — the beaches, plantations, marshes, historic towns, and natural parks. Every two weeks, get off campus and see something new. Broaden your horizons, reduce stress, and discover the Lowcountry beyond the downtown bubble. You'll gain perspective you can't get in a classroom.
Find Your Tribe
Join clubs and organizations where you'll meet students with similar interests. Whether it's intramural sports, a faith group, an academic society, or a service organization, your tribe becomes your support system, your study partners, and often your lifelong friends. College is richer when it's shared.
Vary Your Route Home at Night
In the evenings, don't always walk the same way home. Predictability is a vulnerability. Better still, walk in groups or use paid walkers / rideshare. Charleston is generally safe, but situational awareness and unpredictability are your best defenses. Never walk alone late at night if you can avoid it.
Use Lids on Your Drinks
Always use a lid on your drink in bars and at parties — and never leave it unattended. Drink spiking is real and happens in every college town. A lid is a simple, low-friction barrier that dramatically reduces risk. Carry a drink cover or simply ask the bartender for a lidded cup.
Wear Emergency Beacon Jewelry
Consider wearing discreet smart jewelry — rings, necklaces, or bracelets that act as emergency beacons. With a tap or press, they can silently send your location to trusted contacts or 911 without drawing attention. It's fashionable, invisible to an attacker, and could save your life.
Build a Group Chat of Trusted Friends
Create a group chat with a few close friends you can ping in an instant — for safety check-ins, walking-home buddies, or just 'I need to talk' moments. A quick 'home safe?' culture among friends saves lives and builds bonds. Make it a habit to check in on each other.
Share Your Location with Friends and Family
Turn on location sharing with at least one trusted friend and a family member through your phone's built-in features. It's not about surveillance — it's about safety. If something goes wrong, someone knows where you are. This simple step takes two minutes and provides peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
Speak Up Immediately If You Fall Behind
If you fall behind on schoolwork, don't hide it — speak up immediately. Talk to your professor, your academic advisor, your Sentinel, or your parents. The earlier you surface a problem, the more options you have to fix it. Falling behind silently is the #1 reason students drop or fail classes. Pride has no place here.
Get a Part-Time Job
A part-time job — even 8 to 10 hours a week — uses up some of your free time productively, builds your résumé, teaches time management, puts money in your pocket, and expands your network beyond the campus bubble. It also builds character and work ethic that employers value far more than GPA alone.
Why Listen to These Tips?
Stuart Williams isn't just another advice-giver. He spent over a decade in the classroom at the College of Charleston, served on the School of Business Board for 8 years and its Executive Committee for 5, and guided his own daughter through her CofC journey. His deep roots in the city — and his commitment to giving back — earned him a day in his name from the City of Charleston in 2023.
These 15 tips combine academic discipline, personal safety, mental wellness, and local Charleston knowledge — the complete playbook for thriving as a student, not just surviving.
Safety First, Always
Tips 9 through 13 are about your personal safety. Sunday Sentinels™ exists to create a protective community around every student — but these habits are your first line of defense. Take them seriously.