Freshman year is the scariest, most exciting, life-changing year. The times where you meet the friends who will be your bridesmaids, laugh, and eat french fries until 3 a.m., and also cry over the test you failed. Through the ups and downs, I learned more life lessons than I ever thought possible, and it would be a crime to not document them.
So, here's what I learned freshman year.
- Keep your door open. You meet the best people when they accidentally walk into your room thinking it's theirs.
- Pants in your dorm are optional. Some people will never wear pants, and that's accepted and normal.
- Don't get on a bus if you don't actually know where you're going. You will be dropped off in the middle of nowhere.
- Keep your towel close, and your enemies closer. If your friends steal your towel, you'll be ending your shower naked and afraid.
- Life's too short to not eat the dining center cookies. Live a little.
- It's socially acceptable to wear the same outfit two days in a row because your TR friends don't have to know about your MWF life.
- There is no way to escape the heat. If you don't have AC, you'll sweat to death in August, but your overactive heater will make your room smolder in the dead of winter.
- Speaking of winter, a quality coat is the only reason you survive those -10 degree days.
- Mandatory doesn't always mean mandatory, but it would probably be helpful.
- There's always someone crazier than you are.
- The best kind of nights are the ones spent in, talking with your best friends and dying of laughter.
- Napping is not a hobby, but a lifestyle.
- If a friend claims they aren't a “hipster" or “alternative," they probably are.
- Shower conversations are some of the most intellectual discussions of your life.
- Find someone who has a car and be their friend. It will come in handy when you're craving ice cream or completely out of food.
- Filter what you say. You may have been in a bubble your whole life, but everyone has different opinions, and you have to respect that.
- Finding “the one," or really anyone, is not important. Let life happen.
- Check your judgments at the door; the stereotypes are wrong. Get to know different personality types because they'll become your best friends
- Call your family and tell them you love them because they love you more than anything.
- Go outside your comfort zone. The moments where you're breaking the rules you set for yourself, are some of the greatest memories of your life.
