The books are bought. There’s already an unidentified stain on the carpet. And the roommate is either the good, the bad or the ugly.

Congratulations. You lived to see week two. It’s time to bid adieu to welcome week parties and greet the upcoming semester.

This is college, a time of extreme activity (intellectual or not) and sooner or later, the daily grind of life as a college student will catch up to even the most motivated, spirited young adult. Suddenly the initiative to participate in the world beyond your comfort zone will diminish, if not disappear altogether.

I know all about mid-semester or mid-college lulls when the thought of pursuing ambitious goals of weekly yoga and staying caught up on reading fly, not only out the window, but out into the polluted sky. Enterprise becomes as elusive as the receding polar ice caps.

So, whether you’re a first week freshman or a drifter somewhere between sophomore year and graduation, now is the time to reflect on what you want to accomplish this year (Please keep in mind that there’s more to college than beer pong and smoking pot).

I challenge you to do the following:

1. Try something new. Sample an ethnic food. Boston streets boast eateries serving up Brazilian, Ethiopian and Turkish flavors, not to mention bold variety in between. Experience unfamiliar cultures by seeking out exotic, conveniently located restaurants. At the very least, try a different Frappuccino flavor at Starbucks.

2. Get involved. Not just on campus, but in your life. If you’re an Internet junkie, log off Facebook, get up, go outside and find two new things you like to do. Repeat as needed. Join a club, host a soiree, go people watching. Refuse to be passive – on that note. . .

3. Write a letter to the editor. Youth is about expressing ideas, starting dialogue or publicly – albeit tactfully – announcing that upstairs neighbors should refrain from honing Dance Dance Revolution skills in the wee hours.

4. Explore your beliefs. Debate with a Republican, Democrat or other and open your mind to differing opinions while giving a voice to your own. If religion is a priority, read about other religions, like the ancient, yet widely forgotten Zoroastrianism.

This is not a lecture. It is a reminder to maintain the initial semester zeal staving off the frustration of daily routine by remembering that college adventures go beyond house parties with kegs.

If you’re new to university life, you will soon develop habits and routines to get the homework and laundry done while allowing time to party. But aren’t you here to engage in more than the basic routine of life? If that’s all you want then get a job.

Remember, you’re here to get an education that includes more than coursework and knowing the best way to write a paper while hungover.

I’m in this challenge, too.

My ‘something new’ is this column. I’ve flirted with the idea of writing one for a few semesters and there’s no time like the present.

– Holly Fletcher can be reached at [email protected]