If you are like me, the thought of going to college was a little frightening. I went to the same private school for 18 years of my life, so I had no idea what it was like to make new friends or be in a new environment. But now that I will be a sophomore at TCU in the fall (Go Frogs!), I can look back on my first year of college and reassure you that it is one of the BEST times of your life. Here are just 14 of the many reasons you shouldn’t be afraid of freshman year.
1. You WILL make friends.
“What if I don’t make any friends?!” was the question I consistently asked myself. Well, here is a tip about college—you have to put yourself out there. Friends won’t just come knocking on your dorm room door, so you have to step out of your comfort zone and be OK with meeting new people, even if they don’t fit your typical “friend group.” However, you are guaranteed to meet a ton of new people, and who knows, you may even meet your best friend on the first day!
2. The food isn’t as bad as you think.
In fact, it’s pretty good!! The school café/market place/whatever you want to call it can be great. They normally have everything from salads to mac and cheese. Plus, your school may have a great Union where they serve Starbucks and Chick-fil-a, and you won’t even have to leave campus!3. The recreational gym isn’t scary!
For the longest time I was afraid to go in my school’s rec because I assumed that all the jocks would be in there just waiting to judge me as I worked out on the elliptical machine (I don’t have an athletic bone in my body). But that’s not true! Athletes normally have their own facility or own time to work out! Plus, the rec is AWESOME! It’s like a personal gym that you don’t technically have to pay for.
4. You don’t have to gain the Freshman 15.
As long as you eat healthy and get some form of exercise on a regular basis, you will stay in shape. You may even lose weight because you’ll be walking five miles across campus everyday!
5. Dorm life is AWESOME.
I was a little nervous about living in a dorm, but honestly, that’s where you meet a lot of people and spend a lot of your time! Your dorm may also offer fun activities every week to create a fun and friendly atmosphere.
6. Your R.A. is your friend.
My R.A. was a guy, and when I first met him, I thought he was going to be super strict and make us all go to bed at 8 p.m.—that is a myth! R.A.’s like to hang out with their residents and have fun, too. You can go to them with anything and they will be more than happy to help you!
7. You get to explore an awesome new city!
If you’re going away for college, you get to explore a whole new city on the weekend! Or if you go to college in your home town, you get to show everyone the coolest places to hang out.
8. You don’t have to know your major.
Seriously, how does anyone expect a high school senior to know what they want to do for the REST OF THEIR LIVES? So if you don’t know what you want to major in, that’s fine! You can take some core classes for a while and even take classes that might interest you in a major.
9. You can change your major 100 times.
I’ve already added a major, dropped a major, added a minor, and thought about another minor, and I am only going to be a sophomore. So, yes, it’s totally fine to change your mind, because sometimes your passions change, and that’s OK!
10. You will find your fit.
Everyone worries about what group they will associate with in college. Will I be in a sorority? Will I be in student government? Band? Honors? Well, don’t worry, at every college, there exist a billion different groups and organizations. So try out everything! You never know what new passion you may find!
11. You can always call up old friends.
Being in a new environment can make you miss your old friend group, your home, and even your bed. So if you feel like you need some extra encouragement, reach out to an old friend from high school. Chances are, they feel the same way too!
12. It’s OK to go back home.
Your parents miss you like CRAZY! So if you’re really craving a home-made meal, or you just need a hug from Mom and Dad, they will gladly welcome you back.
13. Lunch is no big deal.
In college, there isn’t a designated time for everyone to eat lunch so you may find yourself alone at 12:30 with a growling stomach. If you feel awkward eating by yourself, text a friend. Lunch is a great time to meet people and further your relationships with new friends. And if you’re just feeling too tired to go to lunch, you can always watch an episode of Gossip Girl and eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in your room.
14. You can still have plenty of interaction with animals
College is awesome, but it’s sad that you can’t bring your pets from home to live with you. To fix your need for some animal time, volunteer at a local animal shelter. You can make as difference in your community while getting some puppy love!
(Pictures courtesy of Yahoo images)
