Graduating high school gives you this feeling that you are finally free, that you can now embrace being independent and who you want to be. But, you also have to realize that if you go into college with a blind eye, you are in for a rude awakening. I went into college thinking I knew everything, but really, I didn’t. I’m just glad I learned some valuable things and made it out somewhat alive.
1. Appreciate my family back at home.
It isn’t wrong to miss your family. At first, when I left, I thought that meant not talking to your family every day. I realized, after a while, that I do miss them, and I enjoy talking to them, and there isn’t anything wrong with that. The times we did talk were what calmed me down when I was stressed or missing home.
2. No matter what, those who truly care for you will show it.
It took me all of high school and a little bit of freshman year to realize I shouldn’t go after those who don’t care. I was only wasting my breath. I only wish I realized it sooner because it would’ve saved me so much trouble. The best feeling was knowing I had people back at home, at other colleges or even at school with me who I knew cared so deeply for me and only wanted to see me succeed.
3. I need to love myself first before I start anything with anyone.
That’s what I always told myself in high school. I thought I knew what that meant, but I guess, I didn’t. So, after first semester when I really, truly found who I thought I was and I thought I loved myself, I felt it was time to let others in. After an epic failure, I found that I didn’t find myself or even love myself. It was a difficult lesson to learn, but it helped me.
4. It doesn’t take a lot to be appreciative of what you already have.
When you look at things from a different perspective, it really shows you what you have. It makes you really appreciate life and everything you’ve been given. So simply just taking a step back and looking at what I already had showed me it doesn’t take much.
5. Not everyone wants to be your friend.
You would think that before coming to college, everyone you would meet would want to be your friend. But, let me tell you, that is not the case. I came to college giving it my all. I knew I wouldn’t be everyone’s friend, but I had to try, right? Now, I realized I can’t be friends with the world, and I was OK with that. I found the people who I wanted to be friends with, and that is all that mattered.
6. College can be easy, but at the same time, it can be really hard.
First semester for me was not too difficult. I did have some bumps in the road here and there, but overall, first semester went by smoothly. But, second semester after I added on a second major, it became very difficult. It was a big wake up call. I had to learn that not every semester and every class I take will be like my first semester.
7. Not to depend on others for my happiness.
This was probably the biggest lesson I learned. I never thought I depended on others because I already thought I could depend on myself. I never knew it, but I was depending on my friends and my family for my happiness, which isn’t right. In order to be happy, you have to know that it is yourself who makes you happy, not other people.
8. Let go of those who didn’t treat me in a way I should be treated.
This was a difficult time for me. I thought I had made my friends when I came to college. I did find those friends, but I had people in my life who weren’t good to me. But, I always have strived to look for the best in people no matter what. That’s one of my flaws because it always bites me in the end. After I let go of those who weren’t good friends to have in my life, I became happier. I didn’t think it would affect me in any way, but it did.
9. You will drift apart from friends back at home, and that is OK.
My biggest fear when I was going away to college was drifting apart from my good friends back at home or those friends who were going to different colleges. I did drift from some, and it hurt. But, what I realized was that drifting isn’t a bad thing. If you were meant to stay friends, then they would try to maintain the friendship, as well. It shouldn’t just solely be on you. Drifting from those people also showed me who my true friends are, the friends I know will be there always.
10. Even though I’m at college away from home, it isn’t wrong to be homesick almost all the time.
Being homesick is one of the worst feelings to have. It is in the pit of your stomach and won’t go away until you do something about it. Just know that you aren’t alone when you get that feeling. Everyone gets it. For me, I had that feeling all the time. I couldn’t shake it. But I didn’t let it affect my new life at school. I missed my home and my family, and I would talk to them when I really needed it to keep me going. But if I let it get to me, then I wouldn’t have been able to stay at school so far away. It pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and make this new unfamiliar place my new home.
Through everything I learned just this past year, it really shaped me into who I am now. It was very difficult, but I made it through. I wouldn’t trade my freshman year for anything. Going though all these lessons really showed me that the path isn’t easy. But looking at the big picture in the end is a reward in itself. Looking back at all you were able to accomplish really puts your life and the choices you made into perspective. One might think that all of the valuable things I learned are common sense, I wouldn't disagree. I thought that, as well, but when you get put into a new unfamiliar environment with unfamiliar people, all prior social knowledge goes out the window. Everything you learned about yourself is only from high school. It's a big world out there; everything is different.
