You know, I keep reading all these articles about “things I wish I knew when I was a freshmen” or “things I wish I knew before college” and they are all pretty relatable.

Something you may not know is that Tennessee Tech University is a pretty successful, big-time university, located in a small town that is way more awesome than most people know or even give credit for. Since I am about to start my last year, I thought I should share about the things I wish I knew as a freshman at TTU.

1. Connections and involvement: Go in with an open mind. Get involved and make connections. Greek life, tour guide, SOA, clubs for your major, BCM, Young Life, Disney Club, anything and everything. There is something out there for you and it is a great way to make friends and life-long connections. It’s also a great way to open doors to many other achievements.

2. Free Microsoft: Yes, I said free…I am a little upset that I didn’t know this fact until after I bought the full Microsoft office package at BestBuy. If you’re a TTU student then our gracious university allows you to succeed with the best resources, you can download Microsoft office for free. Click Here!

3. Degree Works: Trying to gather all of your ducks in a row for graduation is a huge, huge, huge headache. The Tennessee Tech website provides a tool to help students track their degree progress and their advisors have access to this tool as well. Degree Works, it is a streamline of your graduation process. It shows what courses you have taken, what courses you need, your overall GPA and more. It’s extremely helpful.

4. Rent a Room: Any student has access to rent a study room in the library. It is very helpful if you want to get away from everyone or even if you want to be in a closed room with your study group. It’s free!

5.Tech Nights: Monday night you can go to Fazoli’s from 4 p.m. to close and get a Spaghetti or Fettuccine Alfredo plate with a drink for $2.99, Tuesday night at Zaxby’s you can receive a meal from a selected menu for under $4.00 & Wednesday nights at Blue Coast Burrito you can receive 15% off your meal from 4 p.m. to close.

6.Tech ID discount: Honestly just about anywhere in Cookeville will give you a discount if you show them your Tech ID so ALWAYS ask. This can really help you as a broke college kid!!

7.Learn the cowboy-cha-cha now: Thursday nights are a must at Bobs, Lava, or whatever the only line-dancing club in Cookeville is called now and you won’t regret learning how to line dance as soon as you can. I know what you’re thinking, but yes, line dancing is so much fun. There is no better way to spend a Thursday than getting out on the dance floor, knowing what you’re doing (or pretending like you do) and dancing the night away with your friends.

8.Nights Out: Though there are numerous places to go out at night in Cookeville and have some drinks with your friend(s) that is not what college is all about. I don’t suggest trying to go out every night of the week unless you want to be a 6^th year senior. Going out isn’t the only fun thing to do in college; your fun experience is all about what you make it. So have fun but don’t over-do it.

9.Cheap Taxi: Since we are on the subject of going out-- call a taxi. It’s only $4 and can take you just about anywhere you need to go in the town. Don’t drink and drive!!

10. If you're bored, that's you're problem: Seriously, there are so many exciting things happening at Tennessee Tech and in Cookeville. Say you don’t find a club that you’re interested in (which I highly doubt will happen), there is so much more to do in and around Cookeville. Whether it’s visiting one of the many state parks near TTU, Cummins Falls, Burgess Falls, etc. or catching a free show at the Backdoor Playhouse. You can even grab a group of friends to go to the town bowling alley, movie theatre, skate rink, or even enjoy a round of laser tag. I hate that a lot of students think TTU is such a “suitcase college”, it’s not if you make the most of your weekend! You can try so many things without even making a dent in your gas budget.

11. In the middle: Cookeville’s location is approximately 82 miles east of Nashville, 109 miles west of Knoxville and 96 miles north of Chattanooga. Mini road trips to these places are always fun to take on random weekends!

12. Tech Yeah: Even though you’re attending a smaller university of about 10,000 people or so don’t be ashamed of that fact. According to a variety of reports and rankings organizations, Tennessee Tech is one of the best public universities in the South.

Tennessee Tech is a great place to earn a degree. The years I have spent at this university have seriously been the best of my life. They have flown by and the main thing I wish I knew before freshmen year is that you need to make every second count.