We’ve all been there. Freshman, you know all too well the struggle. And seniors, for those of you going off to grad school, a new school looms in your future too.
Me? I started attending a new school in a different country with complete strangers and only crap quality WhatsApp phone calls from home to guide me. It never really hit me until I got here that a fresh start meant I’d be a freshman. Again.
But no matter where you are now or where you’re going, we can all relate to some good old freshman rookie experiences that we ~ pray ~ will never occur again.
1. Making sure you have a map handy on your phone because God forbid you be THAT person who is walking around consulting an actual paper map…
Modern technology got us all like, #BLESSED.
2. Trying to figure out the local lingo, hotspots, and which frat house/lunch table/administrator you should stay far far away from.
All the important stuff.
3. Oh, and also where the hell are my classes?!?! IN THE STABLES?
And you expect me to just waltz right in and know where that is?
4. Testing out the caf food like… which will make my stomach hate me the least?
My favorite's Gouda.
5. Joining every club with free food, cool trips, or attractive members (let’s be honest guys)...
...and then realizing as the year goes on that you were actually nuts to think you had a chance of being an active member in 10 clubs.
6. *Only continues going to club meetings with free food*
I assure you, this is a very normal and widely practiced thing.
7. Giving yourself a much-needed pep talk as you are feeling very lost and confused walking around campus and watching massive groups of people hanging out, chatting, catching up with old friends...
While you’re just standing there desperately searching for that one familiar face that you ate breakfast with that one time… Julie? Where are you Julie?
8. You probably feel as though there is literally a stamp on your forehead that screams “FRESHMAN!" (even if you're not one).
Unless you’re one of those freakishly adaptive people who have 16 new friends after 2 hours because you talk everyone's ear off and have no qualms or reservations about meeting new people (in which case, bravo).
9. Seeking out the faces that look the friendliest so that you can ask them questions about where the stapler is in the library or for that matter, the bathroom.
May the odds be ever in your favor.
10. Walking into a class and verifying with the people around you that you are, in fact, all taking American History II and branching on into small talk so that you can go home feeling accomplished.
#SoPopular.
11. Spitting out your ice-breaker “fun fact about me” without really processing what you’re saying because it's your turn and you forgot everything about yourself.
First impressions are stressful.
12. On that note, you’re also probably trying to gauge where to sit in the classroom so that you don’t a) look like a total nerd or b) get stuck working with a total nerd.
Unless nerds are your thing, in which case, go get 'em, tiger,
13. Smiling at all the beautiful people who pass you and making a mental note to pat yourself on the back because you made a damn good move coming to this school.
A++
14. Realizing that this place is gonna be alright after all.
And – hey – everyone’s gotta be a freshman at some point (yes, even that super hot senior).
