Looking back at my senior year of high school, I realize I had many preconceived notions about what college life was like — the ideas most likely set in my head from movies, TV shows and social media. Now, as my freshman year of college is coming to a close in the upcoming weeks and I’ve lived to tell the tale, I can debunk the theories my high school self whole heartedly believed.
I’ve realized I’ve learned just as many life lessons as I have lessons from my textbooks, and there are countless things I wish I could have told myself a year ago.
1. The friends you make on the first day will most likely not be the same friends you have by the end of the semester.
Everyone is desperate and vulnerable during the first weeks of freshman year and are willing to scavenge together any group of people they can in fear of being alone and the word friend is used incredibly loosely.
As heartbreaking as it can be to lose a friendship with someone you met on the day of orientation, realize that you have four years and (at least for Maryland’s sake) 30,000 students to potentially befriend.
The genuine ones worth keeping will stick around, and the ones who don't weren't as close of friends as you thought.
2. You will never get eight hours of sleep.
It just doesn't happen, sorry to break it to you. No matter how hard you try, you’ll either forget about an assignment until midnight, get caught up chatting with floor mates or absentmindedly drink a cup of coffee at 10 p.m.
3. Your roommate doesn’t need to be your best friend (but they can be).
Again, everyone is vulnerable and desperate to make friends as freshmen and in turn, cling to whomever and whatever they can, and in many cases, a roommate is their first target due to proximity. Just because you live in the same space as someone doesn’t mean that your roommate is instantaneously your BFF.
Don’t suffocate them. Relationships take time. Give one another appropriate space and things will hopefully work out to your advantage. If you don't get along, then you part ways and all is well, or if you become close (like I can vouch for) you’ll keep in touch and have fond memories.
4. There is no speed limit for bicycles.
Note to self: walking to class is a dog-eat-dog world. Every man for himself. Either watch your back, or perhaps invest in rearview mirrors for your Jansport.
Getting hit by a bike isn’t a great way to start the day.
5. Sometimes you’ll fail exams, and that’s OK.
If you were that kid in high school who couldn't handle a C, you’re going to be in a world of hurt. Realize that college is a whole different animal and that “bad” grades will rear their ugly heads every now and then and that it’s OK.
The best thing you can do is learn from the mistakes. Everything we do on this earth is a learning process, after all.
6. Your parents will call you every day (probably for the rest of your life) and it’s just something to get used to.
You can most likely expect a text or phone call in the morning, at lunch, before dinner, after dinner and before you go to bed. The best solution to this? Make the initiative to call them first.
You parents miss you more than they lead you to believe and deep down, you know that the same goes for you.
7. You can’t schmooze your grades anymore.
Maybe in high school you could ask for extra credit or to retake a test you completely bombed, but that doesn’t happen in college. Everything is on your own head and is your own responsibility.
Don’t blame your professors for not bumping your grade up a percent, but rather take an initiative to work harder the next time around.
8. Squirrels do not yield to pedestrians.
These mammals practically outnumber the student body and they truly couldn't care less about inconveniencing you. They run across your feet as you’re late for your 8 a.m., narrowly dodge bicycle wheels and threaten to attack if you intrude on their favorite garbage can.
Approach with caution. Squirrels are no longer cute and innocent.
9. Despite how gross your dorm may be, you'll call it home sooner than you think.
Some days when you’re just stressed out of your mind and on the brink of a mental breakdown, you’ll tell everyone that all you want to do is go “home”: the dorm room with dust bunnies, hair balls, communal bathrooms, cold tile floors and twin sized beds.
You eventually look past all its faults and love it for what it is.
10. You’ve most likely never encountered stress comparable to this before.
No matter how rough senior year of high school may have been, it is nothing compared to college. Nothing at all.
Staying up until midnight studying for an A.P. U.S. history exam turns into staying up until 3 a.m. writing an essay, studying for a midterm and finishing an art project.
Be warned.
11. This is the beginning of adulthood, and as scary as it is, it’s also the most exciting chapter of your life you’ve experienced yet.
College means that you’re completely on your own. You’re responsible for yourself. You’re entirely independent. That’s scary — like, really scary — but it also means you’re truly starting life as an adult, which is pretty cool.
In college, you’ll have opportunities you’ve never had, the chance to experience new things, moments in which you find yourself, the opportunity to meet the greatest friends you could imagine.
College is where you create the greatest memories and it’s something you wouldn't want to trade for the world.
