If you had asked me a week before I left for college how I felt, I would have told you I was more ready to leave than ever. During November of my senior year, I was lucky to obtain my first college acceptance. Since then, I had been counting down the days until I moved in. As the months progressed, I felt more anticipation than ever. I began counting the days down, stressing out my mother more and more.
College is a place of learning. I expected to participate in typical subjects, such as mathematics and history. However, I happened to learn life lessons as well. Here are 12 things I learned my first semester of college.
1. Being away from home is harder than I thought.
I cannot stress how little I thought I would miss home. I was sad to leave my family, don’t get me wrong, but I have always had a heart for adventure. I knew that I would constantly call my mother and I would get daily updates on the shenanigans at home. Although I would not be there physically, I knew I would always be there mentally. However, I can admit that I often found myself laying in bed wishing I was in the one from home with my dog.
2. Don’t forget about your old friends while you make the new ones.
College is an exciting time where you have the opportunity to meet thousands of new people from different places. You spend eighteen years with practically the same people and suddenly everything changes. It is an exciting time, but it’s important to maintain contact with your childhood friends. You don’t have to speak every single day, but it’s important to remember who has always been there. Friends from home are the ones who know you the best and understand the things your college friends can’t.
3. There is nothing wrong with eating alone.
Nothing would make you more of an outcast in high school than eating by yourself. College is a completely different atmosphere. I cannot count the times I have sat alone during a meal in college and been okay with it. I would rather sleep in an extra fifteen minutes and enjoy a bagel on the go than lose sleep to eat a bagel with friends.
4. High school was not the best years of my life.
It’s such a cliche. Everyone says that high school is the best years of your life. I entirely disagree. As great as high school was, it does not amount to college. In college, you basically live with your best friends. There is no adult supervision and you are the rule maker. Although this responsibility is refreshing, it’s important to be safe as well.
5. Give everyone a chance.
In high school, I did my best to fly under the radar. I had my select group of friends. I was never a big partier, but it is a great idea to try to broaden your surroundings. If I hadn’t started a conversation or offered someone to sit with me, some of my friends I probably wouldn’t know.
6. I am not the person I was in high school.
I am currently in one of the most transitioning periods of my life. I went from an 11PM curfew and sleeping in the same room all of my life to a hard bed in a tight dorm room. I am a lot more mature than I used to be. My opinions are constantly changing and so are my actions. There is nothing wrong with change.
7. Parties are not that important.
Parties are a lot of fun. You get to dress up with your friends, dance and let loose after a long week of papers and exams. However, they are not the most important part of college. No one expects you to go out every night. There should be an equal balance between parties and Netflix nights in your pajamas with your friends.
8. Your college friends double as your college family.
It is always a great feeling being surrounded by your friend group. I am lucky enough to call my friend group family. There are no other people I would rather jam to High School Musical on the ride to Walmart at 3AM with. Along with our great adventures and fajita nights, my friends double as my family. We make sure to take care of the others and give our best advice.
9. Getting a package is the equivalent of getting a present on Christmas morning as a child.
Nothing gets me more excited than receiving the ping on my cell phone from my campus email alerting me that I have a package. Care packages are the key to curing homesickness. My own care package consisted of 2 ply toilet paper (a privilege I didn’t realize I would lose), shoes and my favorite makeup.
10. Coffee can and will be your best friend.
The most important person getting me through college is coffee. This might sound cliche, but coffee can and will be your best friend, especially around finals time. With so much more work than high school and less time to sleep, I suggest milk and two sugars.
11. Don’t expect everyone wants a relationship.
I know a lot of people who live in this mentality. Teenagers in this era are not particularly looking to settle down. I know a lot of guys who would prefer to hook up with a lot of girls than spend all their time on one. It is important that you receive a person’s intentions early in the developing relationship than be heartbroken later.
12. Don’t wish your life away.
It is easy to get lost in the daydream of your future life. You might want to fast forward to your dream job, your own apartment, getting engaged and starting a family, but it is important to live in reality. You will never be this young again. Eat the dessert. Ask the boy out. Go to the football games. Live every day the best that you can because you'll never be this young again.
