As my first year of college comes to a close, I've come to the conclusion that you do, in fact, learn things here! Who knew. So I want to say thank you to Western Washington University for allowing me to tell my parents that their money is being put to good use. I've had a wonderful experience so far, and I hope everyone else can say the same. Here are some important lessons I learned in the past nine-ish months:
1. Study.
We all fall victim to procrastination. Make sure to take time to review material you learned in class. Whether it's making flashcards, rewriting your notes from class or rereading the chapter. Make sure to take time besides homework to study. You are there to learn, not just to meet people.
2. Homework comes before hanging out.
No matter how much you tell yourself you will do homework after going out with friends, it's not going to happen. It's much easier to plan ahead and do the work before you hang out. That way, when you hang out with friends, you don't have to be thinking about doing your homework later. That also means you should do your homework before you go on Netflix or play a video game, as well.
3. Join clubs.
Look for clubs at your school that meet your interests. You will find people who have the same interests as you and you may make some new friends. I met a bunch of people through the tennis club at WWU. I never would've met friends like Amber, Ethan, Der or Sydney without the tennis club. College can be intimidating when you first get there and realize people don't know your story, and it can be difficult to meet people in classes, so clubs can really help you socially.
4. Say yes.
With college comes many experiences. I'm not saying to say "yes" to shooting heroin or anything like that; I'm just saying to go out with people sometimes. You never know what's going to happen. College can be tedious if you stay cooped up in your tiny dorm room all year, so make the most of it.
5. Friends will come and go.
There's always a mad rush the first week of school to meet people. If you don't meet too many people, the world isn't over. More than likely, you will find your group of friends eventually, and the group will fluctuate throughout the year. People change, and that's okay!
6. Life isn't a race to see who finishes first.
It's okay to party and have a good time with friends; you can meet lots of people through parties. But remember that you always have a choice to not participate in something you find against your morals or harmful to your health. That being said, you could go with friends on a hike or a camping trip. You don't always have to be going to the next rager.
7. Get to know your professors.
Your grade in the class will benefit from this and so will your future job. Your professor will be a huge help for a reference when you start looking for a career in the future. I know high school made befriending your teachers seem uncool, but having to pay thousands of dollars for several years of college and not getting a job due to a lack of references is even less cool.
8. Get to know the library.
The library has endless amounts of material for us to use. Most libraries also have tutoring spots and technology support centers. The library is a great place to study, as well. There's nothing better to start off a study session than stopping by Zoe’s Bagels in the library lobby and picking up coffee before hitting the books.
9. No one is above cheap meals.
Cheap meals are your friend. We are all on a budget. You don't have to eat out all the time, and you also don't have to bail out for every meal. Save the good food for when you go home for a weekend, if you can. Eating healthy is also important. Feed your body food that will keep it healthy and running for school and other activities. You don't want to be sick and tired throughout the year.
10. Don't be "that guy."
We all know that guy: the one who never showers, mooches off of all their friends and is a slob around the dorm. Be respectful of other people's things and space. Make sure your lifestyle doesn't affect others in a bad way. If you don't know who that guy is in the group, it very well might be you.
11. Give yourself some alone time.
With dorm and campus life taking up a lot of our time, we forget to give ourselves some "me time." It's very important to find a quiet place where you can take a break; maybe do some writing or reading, or watch a good movie. College is a hectic time and people are constantly in it. The alone time you have will allow you to relieve some stress and keep yourself mentally healthy.
12. You will have good and bad days.
No one said college was going to be easy. No matter how hard you try, life is going to throw you a lot of curve balls. Stay in there and fight it off. Eventually, good times will come around. Never give up and don't be afraid to ask for help. Asking for help isn't giving up. Your friends and family are with you for support. They will be there with you celebrating when you're on top of the world, and on their knees with you when you can't seem to get up.
13. A Bad grade isn't the end of the world.
You can always come back from a bad grade. The earth won't stop turning when you get a bad grade. Believe me. I experienced it. It's still turning. I can still feel my pulse.
14. Form a study group.
Classes are much easier when you know people in the class and you work together. You can get your questions answered for homework, and you make sure you understand the concepts without having to ask the professor. Sometimes talking to the professor can be intimidating and the peers from a study group can help with most questions. Also, a study group makes any online exam that much easier.
15. Have a back-Up plan for registration.
You will not get the exact classes you want as a freshman. It won't happen. Make sure you have a back-up plan with a few different schedules. When registration comes around, you wont be scurrying around desperately looking for a class to get more credits. The back-up plan makes registration a lot smoother and less stressful.
16. Weekends aren't just for partying.
Go out on a hike. Find a trail, beach, forest, cool restaurant or park to explore. Play basketball, frisbee, soccer, tennis or any other sport to play. Go on a road trip with friends. Really go all out "Western" and hook up a hammock, strap on those Birkenstocks, tie up your man bun and crack open a book on "How to Save the Whales." My personal favorite weekend shenanigan to do is to go to a lake and kick it with friends. Set up a portable speaker and get some music playing as some lay out for a tan while others play catch with a football. As night time comes around, we set up a campfire and bring out the guitar and five-star vocals. If people are a little tentative to sing, some advice would be to bring some liquid confidence to amplify the singing volume. Karaoke around the campfire to end the night leaves a warm feeling in my heart.
College is a time filled with countless memories, both good and bad. Remember to know who you are and that a little change is a good thing.
