Oh, how fast freshman year has gone. I remember move in day like it was yesterday: the stress of setting up my room, the sadness of having to say goodbye to my parents mixed with the excitement of what was to come. I remember how hard the first couple of weeks were and how excited I was when I finally made some friends to go out and explore college with. This year has been a whirlwind, therefore I decided to compile this handy dandy list of what I learned throughout my freshman year.
1. You will lose friends, and you will miss those friends on nights when you miss home.
It is completely normal for you and your high school friends to grow apart when you all go off to college. It’s okay to cry about it, but try not to dwell too much. Not everyone is meant to stay in your life forever.
2. Travel may not help you find what you were looking for, but it sure gives you some good stories to tell.
This year, all I wanted to do was leave and when I finally got the chance, I realized that everything I thought I would find far away were things that I could find right where I lived. Sometimes it takes leaving to figure that out.
3. Nobody wants to hear you complain all of the time; either suck it up or change something.
Not to sound harsh, but literally everyone is stressed in college. It’s okay to complain about it sometimes, but if you’re constantly sitting there talking about how behind you are in class or how much you hate the school you’re at, it’s time to change something.
4. Second semester will be drastically different from first semester. Whether it be good or bad, roll with it.
Your first semester could be the best of your life while the second semester is the absolute worst. Or first semester could have been awful from start to finish, but second semester is turning out pretty okay. Maybe you’ll get lucky and your first semester is AMAZING and those good vibes roll into your second semester. I hope for all of you it’s the third one. No matter how it may go, hang in there.
5. Find friends at school that you can be comfortably silent with.
Whether you’re all doing homework together, sitting on social media or eating dinner, make sure that your time spent with your friends doesn’t always have to be filled with conversation. Sometimes you just want someone sitting next to you but not necessarily talking to you.
6. Not everyone is what they seem.
Do not trust everyone you meet. I cannot stress this enough. You can never tell who your true friends are, meaning that it’s good to keep your guard up this first year of school.
7. The schoolwork is hard and will take a little bit of time to get used to.
Don’t think that you’re stupid if you don’t understand something. College work is a lot harder to get used to then high school work, and professors are pretty understanding of that. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re struggling. You’ll thank yourself later.
8. The only person who you can depend on is yourself.
Sad but true. The plus side is that you’ll be stronger and more independent because of it.
9. You’ll spend countless days wishing something felt familiar again. Do something to make school feel like home.
Pictures, a journal, a stuffed animal, a quote from your sister; whatever it may be, make sure you bring something from home that you can turn to on days where you feel like all you want to do is go home.
10. You will be lonely at times, but that does not mean that you are alone.
There will be nights where you will be sitting in your room feeling like the entire world is against you. On nights like these, call your mom, your best friend or go sit in a friend’s room. Everyone will feel lonely at times but it’s important to remember that you’re never alone.
11. You don't have to go to parties to have fun.
I have spent countless nights sitting in my dorm room reading a book or watching Netflix while all of my friends were out at a party. You won’t miss out on anything, I promise.
12. Call your parents as often as possible.
Trust me, they’ll be happy to hear from you.
13. Don't stay stuck in high school.
Chances are, nobody cares about half of the stuff that you accomplished in high school. College is a new time to reinvent yourself and be a completely different person, but you can’t do that if you’re constantly reliving your days as a high school basketball star or whatever it may be.
14. Don't procrastinate.
All-nighters have never been and will never be fun. Try to stay on top of your assignments. Remember that school always comes first.
15. Take everything one day at a time.
This may sound cliché, but you only have one chance to be a freshman. There’s only going to be one year for school to be new to you and for you to be experiencing so many firsts with a group of complete strangers. Don’t take it for granted.
As I embark on my last couple of days as a college freshman, I realize how much I’ve grown throughout these past eight months and how much I’ve learned through my classes and the people around me. This first year goes fast, so try to cherish every little part of it; even the bad parts.
Congrats everyone, we made it through our first year of college. Only time will tell what the next three will hold.
