1. "College is the time to explore!” is not just a catchphrase, it’s a way of living
Ever wondered if you liked the taste of snails? Did you ever think of traveling to Japan? College is the time to do everything you’ve wondered about but never had the guts/money to do. Study abroad and student discounts are nothing to joke about. Utilize the “poor college student” card and travel cheaply to all the locations you’ve dreamed of visiting – except London, don’t be stupid you can’t even afford the Underground fare. If you can’t visit locations, that’s fine! Exploration comes from doing things you would’ve never normally done. As long as you’re in the mindset that nothing is out of your reach, anything is possible.
2. Don’t ever say “no”! It’s time to come out of your comfort zone to find out who you really are
Skydiving? Yes! Parasailing? Yes! Three day weekend drive to New York? Why not?! What’s the point in paying all that money for college if you aren’t going to make it exciting? You don’t have to go to some fancy Michelin star restaurant to have a good time. Make friends who can drive and drive somewhere! Take a long walk around off campus and find niches. Climb to the top of the tallest building and just sit for hours enjoying the view. Although it’s really easy and fun to spend all your time with friends, don’t forget to spend some time alone every week to reflect on the changes in your life.
3. You can always make time
Rarely do you not have 10 minutes to spare for a good conversation with people. If your friends truly need your help, don’t tell them, “I’m busy right now, I’m so sorry.” Rather, say, “Hey so I have to work for another 20 minutes, but I can help you afterwards, is that okay?” Making yourself seem busier than you actually are doesn’t make you sound important, it just makes you a bad friend. I don’t care if your Google calendar is multicolored and filled to the brim. You see those white squares of space? That’s free time, utilize it.
4. TV is the biggest waste of time, unless you’re watching it with your friends
Have you ever watched episodes of Friends with your friends? It’s the best feeling in the world when other people can react the way you’ve always wanted to react, but felt too awkward to when you were alone. It’s finally okay to laugh out loud when Janice comes back, or cry when Ross and Rachel breaks up again. Watching TV with your friends is probably one of the fastest ways to truly connect in college. Forget parties and getting drunk, get down to the grinds and watch a good episode of How I Met Your Mother and find out what your friends truly think of the mother.
5. Procrastination takes on a whole new meaning
What was it like for you in high school? Essay due in a week, will most likely finish it over the weekend, read it over one more time the day before class and print it out, and then it’s placed in your backpack, all ready to go. The sun shines and birds chirp for you in the morning as you’re walking to your bus stop, all ready to hand in that paper with absolute certainty that it’s the best work you’ve ever done. Yeah it won’t be like that anymore. Essay due tomorrow? Four Redbulls down and 5000 words left in one of the two essays due the next day. You most likely won’t be the only one in the common room drilling away at your keyboard either. You will discover just how talented you really are, and you wonder why you ever thought it took anyone longer than 3 hours to finish a 3000 word paper. It will get this bad whether you want it to or not. Your counselors and deans can bark at you all day long about the importance of organizational skills, but all you really need to know is that as long as you trust that you’ll finish the assignment, you’re going to be just fine.
6. Don’t get too crazy about slumber parties
Yeah sometimes that conversation is just too good to leave. You’ll find out just how easy it is to stay up all night when there are at least 3 people up till 3 AM every single day. They may be interesting, but sleep is also kind of beautiful. And it needs you, just like you need it. And you know what? Those night owls may not have an 8 AM the next day like you do, so please don’t be stupid. Finish your work on time, set a time you want to go to bed every single day, and stick to that time. Every once in a while it’s okay to have a universally profound conversation with someone, those are the times when you really discover yourself. Just remember that breakthroughs won’t come if you’re sleep deprived and practically delirious.
7. Make a list of your priorities, and then STICK TO IT
Do it right now. What are the 5 most important things you want to do this year? Is it to read a book for fun every month? Is it to exercise every day? Maybe you need to make sure you call your parents every week, or it could be as simple as making sure you get at least five minutes of sunlight every day. Either way, make that list, it’ll give you the direction needed to finish the year strong and productive.
8. DON’T FORGET TO EXERCISE, freshman 15 is no joke
Especially in the Northeast where winter depression is a very legitimate epidemic. Don’t let Vitamin D deficiency be the reason why you’re having a horrible day. Go out and exercise! Generate those endorphins and level up your leg day. Plus, if you work out that arm you may have better leverage when throwing snow balls at your friends.
9. No matter how grown up you thought you were, you’re going to do most of your growing in college
You’re not an adult just because you’re 18, if anything you were probably more responsible as a middle schooler. At least back then you listened to what your parents had to say because they were there to guilt you into following the rules. But now you make your own rules. Now it’s time to decide what those rules are going to be. Are you going to hold the door open for someone because it’s moral or because you’ve decided to be a chivalrous person? Do you do your homework today or tomorrow when it’s due because you’ve decided to be a procrastinator? For once, all of these decisions are up to YOU.
10. And probably the most important lesson of the year: Be safe and have fun!
Wear shower flippers to the shower, and wear other things in other situations - if you catch my drift. Put on warm coats in the winter, and wash your hands as often as doctors. Getting sick is probably one of the worst things to happen in college. But don’t forget to have fun! Just be cautious that if you throw snow balls at someone they are most likely going to get back at you in three folds.
