Happy week 10 of classes, Pioneers! It is hard to believe that the first group for course registration opens tomorrow. A new semester is upon us, opening new opportunities.

Course registration can be a very stressful time, especially for newer students. Navigating PointWeb can be difficult and contacting academic advisors is almost impossible as everyone is doing the same. It is important to stay calm, take some deep breaths and assess the situation. If you need help, ask your classmates, professors or upperclassmen. You need to do what is best for you, and not asking for help when you need it is not going to get you anywhere. The more you ask for help, the better you get at it.

Remember to schedule for classes at 8:30 a.m. on your designated day, as classes can fill up very fast. You can even look at classes ahead of time to better prepare for your course of action. If the Wi-Fi crashes at this time, again, try to stay calm, and contact your advisor as soon as possible about what courses you want and need to take.

Hopefully scheduling and looking ahead at next semester can give you the push through the rest of the semester, thinking about new opportunities and experiences to be had, or maybe creating a fresh start. You go this, Pioneers!

Also, next Tuesday is the midterm elections. Polling places open at 7 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. We are not here to tell you who to vote for or endorse any candidate; just here to remind you that voting is cool.

We are so lucky to have the right to vote, and not voting is giving up your voice and right to someone else, especially during midterms, which statistically have lower turnout, meaning each vote is more significant. Casting a vote is also not just for you but your community as well. It is also your money at the end of the day that is on the ballot.

Much like course registration, voting is an opportunity for change. We can often feel powerless when it comes to social and political issues, but every vote really does matter, and this is your chance to be heard.