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34 Things I Did NOT Expect To Learn During My Freshman Year Of College

Thanks for all the adventures (and the misadventures).

Rachel Underweiser

May 17, 2016

Johns Hopkins University

34 Things I Did NOT Expect To Learn During My Freshman Year Of College

Rachel Underweiser

There are tons of things you expect to learn during your freshman year of college: how to do your own laundry, manage a communal bathroom, and make new friends while adjusting to schoolwork, to name a few. While all of this is true, what makes a freshman year so special are the countless experiences, adventures, and misadventures you could have never foreseen. Here are 34 things I never expected to learn during my first year in Charm City.

1. How to climb onto a half-lofted bed.

2. How to sleep in a dorm without air conditioning in 90-degree weather for over a month (fans, lots of them).

3. How to clean shoes after wearing them in frat basements.

4. How to print from the library printer and still make it to class on time.

5. How to join an acapella cult.

6. How to sneak pizza into the library.

7. How to write, cast, direct, memorize and perform a sketch comedy show in 24 hours.

8. How to take notes on a laptop in class (without checking all forms of social media at least three times).

9. How to make a beautiful omelet (and flip it!).

10. How to lose your voice.

11. How to regain your voice (lots of tea, talking less, singing less).

12. How to draw flowers on chalkboards.

13. How to memorize the names, architects, dates, materials, and locations of over 65 structures (and have it turn out surprisingly OK).

14. How to find a Big (and a Pham).

15. How to recite the lyrics to "Gold Digger" by Kanye West.

16. How to hold a butterfly.

17. How to cross a street that hasn't been plowed yet.

18. How to write and perform standup comedy.

19. How to find (and use) GIFs for every occasion.

20. How to wrap a sari (at 4:30 a.m.).

21. How to set three alarms to wake up for class registration.

22. How to find every gluten-free cafe in Baltimore.

23. How to play Super Smash Bros (but only as Little Mac).

24. How to meditate in the reading room.

25. How to fit over 20 cookies into a to-go box from the cafeteria to bring on Mental Notes tour.

26. How to negotiate the housing lottery.

27. How to attend/have formals the weekend before reading period.

28. How to chat with professors on a boat.

29. How to carry a plastic flamingo under your sweatshirt in the pouring rain.

30. How to write a paper while listening only to the new Drake album.

31. How to say goodbye to friends who are seniors (pretend they aren't leaving).

32. How to say goodbye to your friends whom you won't see until the fall.

33. How to pack the room you lived in all year into one car.

34. How (despite classes and stress) to be excited to have a whole new experience next year as a sophomore.

Thanks for a great year, Johns Hopkins. See you in the Fall!

(Bench reads: Baltimore, The Greatest City in America)

*All the pictures were taken by Rachel Underweiser and friends*

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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34 Things I Did NOT Expect To Learn During My Freshman Year Of College

Thanks for all the adventures (and the misadventures).

1. How to climb onto a half-lofted bed.

2. How to sleep in a dorm without air conditioning in 90-degree weather for over a month (fans, lots of them).

3. How to clean shoes after wearing them in frat basements.

4. How to print from the library printer and still make it to class on time.

5. How to join an acapella cult.

6. How to sneak pizza into the library.

7. How to write, cast, direct, memorize and perform a sketch comedy show in 24 hours.

8. How to take notes on a laptop in class (without checking all forms of social media at least three times).

9. How to make a beautiful omelet (and flip it!).

10. How to lose your voice.

11. How to regain your voice (lots of tea, talking less, singing less).

12. How to draw flowers on chalkboards.

13. How to memorize the names, architects, dates, materials, and locations of over 65 structures (and have it turn out surprisingly OK).

14. How to find a Big (and a Pham).

15. How to recite the lyrics to "Gold Digger" by Kanye West.

16. How to hold a butterfly.

17. How to cross a street that hasn't been plowed yet.

18. How to write and perform standup comedy.

19. How to find (and use) GIFs for every occasion.

20. How to wrap a sari (at 4:30 a.m.).

21. How to set three alarms to wake up for class registration.

22. How to find every gluten-free cafe in Baltimore.

23. How to play Super Smash Bros (but only as Little Mac).

24. How to meditate in the reading room.

25. How to fit over 20 cookies into a to-go box from the cafeteria to bring on Mental Notes tour.

26. How to negotiate the housing lottery.

27. How to attend/have formals the weekend before reading period.

28. How to chat with professors on a boat.

29. How to carry a plastic flamingo under your sweatshirt in the pouring rain.

30. How to write a paper while listening only to the new Drake album.

31. How to say goodbye to friends who are seniors (pretend they aren't leaving).

32. How to say goodbye to your friends whom you won't see until the fall.

33. How to pack the room you lived in all year into one car.

34. How (despite classes and stress) to be excited to have a whole new experience next year as a sophomore.

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Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

It's mandatory to have these conversations.

1. What do you do for a living?

2. What's your favorite color?

3. Do you have any siblings?

4. What's your favorite television show?

5. When is your birthday?

6. What's your biggest goal in life?

7. If you had three wishes granted to you by a genie, what would they be?

8. What's your favorite childhood memory?

9. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

10. Are you a cat or a dog person?

11. Do you believe in a religion or any sort of spiritual power?

12. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

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