Congratulations! You successfully finished thirteen years of schooling! Now it is time for about four more. By this time, you've already experienced prom, graduation, and all of the big senior events. It's hard to leave the people you've grown up with, especially after sharing all of these big celebrations with them at the end of senior year. The next big thing you have to look forward to is going away to college, and although it will be sad to leave the place you've lived your whole life, these upcoming years will be some of the best. Here are some things to remember when you arrive at your new "home."
1. Branch out.
Try things that you didn’t think you would be interested in. It helps you make different groups of friends and might help you find something you are really interested in, even if you didn’t think you would. I had no intention of joining a sorority, but it’s the best decision I’ve made at school.
2. Keep your dorm room door open.
Living in a dorm is great for your first year of college. It allows you to meet a lot of people in the same boat as you. Everyone is probably feeling the same nerves about going away to college. So keep your door open and be welcoming to anyone on your floor who stops by.
3. Take advantage of the dining hall.
It might not be mom’s cooking, but you’ll miss it when you move off campus and have to cook for yourself.
4. Go out whenever you have the chance.
College is the best few years of your life. This is how you make memories. Remember, nobody remembers the nights they stayed in and had plenty of sleep.
5. Keep a balance.
With number four in mind, remember why you’re at school in the first place. Balance your social life and academics. Don’t blow off all of your school work to have fun.
6. Build your resume.
Do things that coincide with your major. Many times having experience in a field is much more important than your overall GPA. So don't freak out if you fail one test, but make sure you're putting yourself out in the real world to make up for it. As a broadcasting major, I am a part of our campus television station where I have gained a lot of real-world experience that looks great to future employers.
7. Try to get a campus job.
I signed up to be a campus tour guide my freshman year, and quickly got moved up to a paid worker for admissions. Working on campus you don’t have to travel far and won’t have absurd hours. Trust me, you’ll need whatever extra cash you can get.
8. Call your parents every day.
The more you’re away from them, the more you’ll appreciate them. You'll miss them being around a lot, so call and bridge the gap. Also when you want to brag about a test grade, most likely your mom will be happier than your roommates to hear about it.
9. Keep in touch with your friends from home.
Being hundreds of miles apart from the people you grew up with will be hard. But if you both put the effort in, most likely you will become closer than you ever were before.
10. If it’s meant to be, it will be.
On the other hand, it’s the sad reality that there will be friends you talked to every day in high school that you won’t have any contact with while you’re away. If you put the effort in and they don't reciprocate, it’s not meant to be.
11. Give yourself time to make friends.
Most likely, college will be a much larger community than you’re used to. I was very upset when I didn’t have my core group of friends within my first week of being away. Then I realized how ridiculous this was. You will meet so many people that you might not find your “best friends” until the first month in, and that’s fine. Networking is one of the most important skills you will learn.
12. Say thank you.
Before you leave for college, say thank you to everyone who has helped you along the way. These two words mean a lot and it’s important to say it because you didn’t get to this point of your life all on your own. Friends, parents, and even high school teachers who positively influenced you deserve a thank you.
13. Don’t give up.
Being homesick is a real thing that the majority of people will experience but you’ll get through it. Just think of how many people must be feeling the same thing as you. It might be a hard time to adjust to living away from home, but don’t let that bring you down. Go out with your friends and try new things and you won’t want to go home for Thanksgiving break because you love college so much.
