With three weeks left before finals, I'm realizing just how fast freshman year has flown by. Even though there have been plenty of hectic and stressful days, I've loved nearly every second of my college experience and I've definitely grown as a person since August. Here are just a few of the things I've learned throughout the course of my freshman year.
1. I couldn't have gone to a big school.
I love being able to roll out of bed at 9:50 for my 10 a.m. class, and I love seeing people I know everywhere I go. There's something about the small community that makes my heart happy.
2. I'm not great at time management.
In high school, my mom always asked about upcoming tests and if I had finished my homework. Now that I'm in charge of all my time, I find myself being more tempted to watch ten episodes of "The Office" rather than write that paper for Philosophy.
3. I'm neither a morning or night person.
No matter what time of day it is, I'm most likely tired and easily irritated. Oops...
4. Getting involved is incredibly important.
I feel like most of the people who complain about not having enough to do or not having fun in college are the ones who don't get involved. No one is going to sign you up for clubs and tell you to go to events, you have to make those decisions on your own. Get out there and try out what your school has to offer, I can guarantee it will be 10,000 times better than sitting in your dorm room watching Netflix.
5. Spring isn't the time to slack off.
In high school, my work load would get lighter and my mind would start to wander when the weather got warmer. This year, spring has easily been the most stressful season with exams and papers due nearly every week.
6. You don't need alcohol to have fun.
Call me cliché, but you really don't. When you find true friends, you won't have to drink to have a good time. Nothing's better than a movie night or spontaneous dance party with your besties!
7. Core classes are really boring.
I probably should have been able to figure this one out on my own, but I didn't realize it until I had to take them. Sitting through a history class everyone is required to take is such a painful experience. At least we're all in it together, right?
8. Friends are so valuable.
At school, your friends become your second family. You spend nearly every second of every day with them and most of the time they're the ones that keep you sane. Without a strong group of friends to lean on when life gets stressful, surviving college would be nearly impossible.
9. Laundry is a pain.
I didn't do my own laundry before I got to college, and I definitely took that aspect of my life for granted. I wait until the last possible second to put my laundry in, and then I normally have to wait for a washer to open up. The struggle is real.
10. I'm terrible at budgeting.
Spend $40 on snacks at Target even though I have extra flex? Sure! Eat Chipotle three times in one week? Why not! Spend $30 on delivery sushi that isn't even that great? You know me! This girl is going to need to work a lot this summer to offset her spending habits...
11. Dining hall food is gross.
I hadn't eaten cafeteria food since middle school and my mom is a pretty terrific cook. Eating every meal in a college dining hall has been quite a shock to my system.
12. I miss my family more than anything.
People tell you that you'll miss home when you leave for college, but nothing can truly prepare you for this. I feel like college has brought me closer to my family, which only makes not seeing them every day even harder. Phone calls with my parents are some of my most cherished moments.
Freshman year has been crazy but I wouldn't change a single second of it. I can't believe I'm almost a sophomore, can someone please figure out a way for me to pause time?
