I honestly did not know what I expected my freshman year of college. I remember being nervous about forgetting to wake up and go to class or how scary doing laundry would be. Now I see freshman running around campus and thinking about my own experiences. There are a whole slew of things I wish I knew my freshman year of college and I hope that these will be helpful to any college freshmen and hopefully funny and relatable to any upperclassmen.
1. Wearing a lanyard around your neck is not cool.
I proudly wore mine around my neck for a full week until I realized that only the freshmen were doing it. Apparently, it's not cool and immediately labels you as a freshman. I don't really know why this isn't more acceptable, but if you want to rock it, go for it.
2. You don't have to dress up for class every day.
You can literally wear whatever you want and no one will bat an eye. I've gone to class in shorts and a t-shirt and in a sundress or nicer clothes. Wear whatever you are comfortable wearing and own it whether it's a pair of sweats or a pair of slacks.
3. You don't need to get to class 20 minutes early.
During the first week, you might try to go early to class to get a good seat, but you don't have to be super early to every single class. You can walk through the door five minutes before or right on the dot. I do advise going early for tests, though.
4. Signing up for tutoring.
If you're having trouble in your core math classes, go get a tutor. There is no shame in signing up for a tutor or needing someone to read over your paper. Just keep in mind that you don't need a tutor for every single subject.
5. It's perfectly okay to question what you want to do in life and to think about other options.
You don't need to feel guilty that you're not happy as an education major or that maybe PT is too much for you. Don't feel pressured to stay in a major that you don't want. Also, know that there could be other options in your major, you just need to know who to talk to.
6. Don't be afraid to try new things.
Join that silly club on campus, go on road trips with your friends, stay up talking to your friends while drinking chocolate milk, ask to observe that Gerontology class. In whatever you choose to do, just make sure to be safe and smart in your decisions.
7. It's okay not to make 100 new friends.
You will meet hundreds of people at orientation and in your classes, but you don't have to be close friends with all of them. It's okay to have a few close friends and to stick with them throughout college. Don't fret because you're not texting all of those people you exchanged numbers with at orientation or because you're not always traveling in a pack of 10+ people.
8. It's perfectly okay to skip that 8 am--it won't kill you.
Class is not always mandatory and sometimes you really need to take a personal day. Make sure not to skip too many 8 am classes or else your grade will begin to suffer, but one won't kill you.
9. 3:00 a.m. is sometimes an early night.
There are nights where you are swamped with work and you procrastinated too long on that Buddhism essay, so 3 am becomes your new bedtime. Sometimes its not always due to a work overload, it could be the result of a super long conversation over text or in person with your roommate or that guy from your philosophy class.
10. Don't procrastinate.
It always seems like a good idea until it is Sunday at 1 am and you are just finishing your paper that is due at 8 am. It is easier said than done, but always try your best to start studying for that math exam or create an outline for that British literature essay well before the actual test/due date. Your sleep schedule will thank you later.
11. Don't quit just because it's difficult.
College is new and scary at first, but after awhile it's not. Don't quit because you're scared of failure or because your class is harder than you expected. Try your best, get help with your school work, talk to a professor, tell your friends what is going on. Don't be afraid to make mistakes and to ask for help. If you quit because it's difficult, then you will never learn anything and never grow.
