The semester is winding down and we students now prepare to get through dead week, take our finals and get home for the holidays. As a freshman, I, like every other student who is, has been or will be in my shoes has experienced the thick and thin of their first semester in college. The truth is that even the people who seem the most put-together are still trying to figure out how this adulting thing works. Here are a few things that I have learned that I wish I had known before I went to college. I figured, what would could be using gifs from my first college binge-watching show: The Office
1. You will do anything to get home cooked food (Even let Jim Meatball your desk)
I used to get annoyed when my mom would tell me "we have food at home". I never wanted "food". I wanted Chick-fil-A, or McDonald's, or to pick up a Pizza. I have all three a short walk away from my dorm room and could not believe how tired I got of eating the same thing every day. You miss home-cooked food after only a couple of weeks in school. My Mom made me chicken pot pie when I got home (my favorite thing she makes) and it brought on a very emotional moment for me. Moral of the story: Enjoy homecooked food while you can.
2. Your R.A.'s will do anything to make educational presentations sound fun.
Things can get pretty awkward, but give them credit for trying. They are there to help you and actually give pretty good advice on classes and adjusting to college. The Resident Assistants all have presentations and events that they have to throw to keep their job. Please go if you can and help them out. Just coming in and grabbing free food from the event is a warm body that they can add to their participaton count. Help them out for helping you out.
3. Don't be the person your friends have to babysit at Tiger Land
It can keep you from being invited out again with your friend group. It's one thing to have a good time, but if you are the one who is constantly causing trouble for your friends and needs help getting home, it's likely that one day you will walk down the hall and see them dressed up for an event that you must have missed in the group message. Why would they not invite you? Please note: this behavior can also get you banned from Chili's for life.
4. And never be this person tailgating.
Okay. I'm not going to get into the specifics of tailgating (for a lot of reasons), but I must say that it is very important that you must drink a lot of water and have food on your stomach before you consume anything else. Tailgates are big at my school, and have the potential to be a lot of fun or a disaster. Do not be the person that you friends have to carry to the game, or the person who is passed out in front of the Union that the paramedics have to pick up. It's a waste of your season football tickets and your cute clothes if you are throwing up or attacted to a fuid I.V. in the hospital. And always remember to keep an eye on your drink, if you decide to drink, and to never pick it up again if you set it down. It sounds obvious, but you'd be suprised how many people save face when offered a drink from someone shady.
5. You find yourself feeling pet-sick.
You can't help but to see their furry face in everything. It's rare that I pass up someone who is walking the dog on campus or around the lakes. Around midterms, many colleges like mine host a Pet Therapy day. It's a great place to meet people and to pet a puppy who reminds you of your furry friend back at home.
6. You get up for class just to go back to bed when it's over.
Some days sleep is the only thing you can focus on. In college, it is tempting to stay up watching Netflix or studying. Then you check the time and see that it's 3 or 4 in the morning. Try to give yourself a definite time to go to bed because your mom and dad are no longer there to tell you to do so. If you do stay up, go to class, get the attendance points, go back to bed and get up when your alarm rings for you to go to your next class.
7. "Fire drill" is just another name for an "inspection".
Fire Drills in residential buildings are not always real fires. Please treat them like they are. More likely if it is in the morning or the afternoon it is a drill (they wil never tell you this or admit to it). Make sure anything you do not want them to see is put away in your personal property beforehand because (whatever it is) will be take and you can be put on probation or worse. If you are taking a shower in the morning or afternoon bring a tshirt and shorts with you just in case the alarm goes off. There are always girls who end up standing outside in towel wraps and it's tragic. Also, please do not be the person who snapchats these girls. It always happens with someone and it's disrespectful, especially if they are obviously embarassed.
8. Professors assume that you understand their lectures.
Don't be afraid to take advantage of their office hours if you have any questions. More difficult courses also offer S.I. courses and they are more helpful than some give them credit for. Personally, I am one of the last students who admits they need help but I was fast to fix my mistake when I got to college. Believe it or not, your professors do not want you to fail. At the same time, it is not their job to understand your internal struggles with the lectures they give.
9. Make connections in your most difficult classes.
Studying + Support = passing together. Classes are a good way to make friends and to make study groups. It also helps to have someone to vent to if the professor, project, or lesson, is especiallty horrible that day. They will, most likely, understand what you are going through.
10. Nothing is free in college.
Except scantrons. Those can be found on the first floor of the Union in the Student Government Office.
11. Don't be afraid to talk to people.
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Everyone is in the same boat and is looking to make friends. If you're dismissed, its probably nothing wrong on your end. Be careful in how you come off to people but, as cliche' as it sounds, be yourself. Sometimes trying to play it cool can give an arrogant or disinterested vibe. How to handle this really depends on how you at approaching people. It's easier for soem than others. The best thing I can offer for intoverts is to try to push yourself to go to one of the student-wide events every once in a while because there will be others, just like you, trying to step outside their comfort zone as well.
12. This though runs through your head every time you have to make a life decison in college:
And then you do it anyway. Hopefully not. This can apply to how you are attending classes or going out with friends.
13. Always be mindful of what you post online.
It can make for an awkward holiday visit, for one. Not to sound like a mom or anything, but it can also affect your future employment. Nothing posted on an acount is actually private information.
14. Stay in touch with your family and friends who chose another college.
Home-sickness can come in waves and or it can seem never-ending. Your best friends may have all picked different colleges but, like your family, they are always one phone call or text away. Do not be afraid to make the first move if your text cain or group message has been dead for a while.
15. Through thick and thin, never lose sight of who you are.
Keep an open mind when trying new things, but do not try to change just to impress others. College is a place where you are, for the first time, able to make decisions on personal beliefs and politics away for your family and friend's influence. College is full of moments of self-discovery. Know that there is not one person who is exactly like you and be tolerant in the differences that you find in others.
This is my open letter to anyone who has been or will be strugging with adjusting to college. The four years that you are given at your university will be the best years of your life. It is an emotional rollercoaster of self discovery. Never be afraid to ask for help and take chances. There will be time where you will have to push through the days where there are nothing but projects due, but there will also be days where you have so much free times on your hands that you can finsh a full season of a Netflix show. If you do, I reccomend "The Office", "Parks and Recreation", or "The Gilmore Girls" (currently working on that one). However, try to not go to classes just to lock yourself back in your room- college has too much to offer.
