As term two draws to a close, I want to take the time to reflect on my experience here at EC. My freshman year has flown by without me noticing how much time has really passed. As the saying goes, "Time flies when you're having fun." I've enjoyed the entirety of it, even when I was up until 3 a.m. working on a paper due the next day. College teaches you so much more than just textbook material, which is why it's been such an amazing experience. While some things you learn the hard way, things get better and you get smarter. These lessons are vital, so the immense debt I'm going to be in later in life is going to be worth every penny. So without any further ado, here I present to you the things I have learned so far in my time at EC.
1. How to procrastinate efficiently.
Everyone knows how to procrastinate, but it doesn't always benefit us. College teaches you how to procrastinate up until a certain point; at that certain point you realize, "Oh wow. This is worth half my grade. I need to do well on this." Thus giving you just enough time to finish it.
2. The library is your best friend.
Literally your partner in crime. It's quiet and you get a ton of work done there. Plus, free printing never hurt anybody.
3. You will find your best friends in college.
I thought this was false, but it turned out to be 100 percent true. My floor-mates are the best people in the world and I wouldn't trade them for anything.
4. You can and will skip classes.
If you're telling yourself you will never skip, you're in denial. I said that in the beginning of the year, but you gotta do what you gotta do. (Or just sleep in. Whatever works.)
5. Taking the highest amount of credits possible is not always beneficial.
Take this advice from someone registered for 17 out of 18 possible credits this last term. It only stresses you out more, so only do this if you know for sure you can handle it. Especially if you're a science major like me.
6. Take weird classes.
I cannot express this enough. Get yourself out there and explore new concepts. If you're even remotely interested, go for it. You may never get the chance to do it again, so do it while there's still time.
7. Sleep is for the weak.
8. ...unless you have an 8 a.m. Then there will never be enough sleep for you to stay awake that early.
I personally have never had one (yet). My roommate did though, and she barely got up in time. So word of the wise: never take an 8 a.m. unless absolutely necessary. I know what you're thinking, "I get up way earlier than that for high school, I can do it." Stop that right there. Save yourself the trouble and listen to me.
9. Coffee is another best friend.
The one thing that may possibly get you through an 8 a.m. lecture.
10. Netflix is the ultimate procrastination tool
11. ...but it's also how you make friends.
Having a series to gossip over with new people is a great ice-breaker. The first question anyone really asks anymore is, "Do you watch Netflix?" and it digresses from there.
12. How to wear your clothes three times before you actually wash them without anyone knowing.
Disgusting? Yes. Convenient? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.
13. The two weeks before finals week are the absolute worst.
Sure, finals week is stressful, but the two weeks beforehand are the weeks that all of your papers and lab reports are due. Sometimes there are even tests less than a week before your actual final (Shout out to my fellow gen chem students.)
14. Finals week isn't too bad.. unless you have three finals on the same day.
This has yet to happen to me, but it's bound to happen sometime in my college career. I couldn't imagine having all of my finals packed into one day. I assume it's worse than getting set on fire. Believe me, I'd take the fire over three finals in one day.
15. There are professors you love
They're the ones who know their material, aren't afraid to be real with you, and are just plain awesome.
16. ...and professors you love to hate.
You all know at least one. They have a droning voice that puts you to sleep, their knowledge is barely there, and sometimes are simply insane.
17. Partying once in a while is OK.
Sorry Mom and Dad, but it's college. Just don't be an idiot about it: don't post stuff on social media or do it every single weekend. We're all adults here; let's act like it.
18. Survivor Saturday -- or other drinking traditions -- is very serious and very real.
Ah yes, survivor Saturday. A hallowed tradition here at Elmira College, it is a day -- in term one -- in which you wake up and begin drinking. You continue to drink all day until the dance that night and see if you make it up the stairs in the CC. Crazy? Yes. Great memories? Probably, but you won't remember half of them.
19. Your schedule is in your hands.
20. ...which isn't always the best thing.
Stay up until 2 a.m.? Sure, why not? While it seems like a good idea at first, when you wake up, go to class, and proceed to fall asleep in class, it makes you regret that decision.
21. Complaining about how much work you have does not help you get it done.
Please, tell me again about all the work you are dreading as you sit on your laptop watching Netflix.
22. Sometimes you have to eat dinner at 1 a.m. It's completely normal.
College is weird. Time seems to become non-existent and you question your mental health a lot. So eating at 1 a.m. isn't crazy; you won't be the only one.
23. Mental breakdowns are not uncommon.
Stress can take over and you may feel like you're drowning. However, it will pass and things get better.
24. Stressing over one bad grade is not worth it.
Take it from me, a lifelong perfectionist. You're not always going to get the grade you want, but getting upset over something that has already been said and done isn't helping your case. Learn from it and improve for next time.
25. Keep food in your room always. You never know if it's going to be 20 degrees in April.
Especially when you live in New York.
26. Your roommate is a big part of how well your year goes.
As a freshman, you don't really have much choice over the matter, but you're living with this person for a year. You need to get along, or life will be hell.
27. Orientation is not what college is like.
28. Join clubs!
29. But not all of them. Then you'll really go crazy.
30. Major in something you actually enjoy -- not something you think you'll enjoy.
I thought being a biochem major would help me with my pre-med focus. However, it just made me realize how much I actually dislike biology.
31. The freshman 15 is incredibly real.
32. I repeat. It is real.
33. Keeping in touch with old friends is key.
34. Finding new friends is important too.
Friends at home and at school keep you going. They'll be there for you no matter if you're at home or at school.
35. "Pain is temporary. GPA is forever."
While true, don't stress yourself out to the point that you're getting sick because of it. Take a breath, step back, and return to it when you're comfortable. Your GPA won't do you any good if you end up in a psych ward because of it.
36. The WiFi sucks everywhere.
Even in the library. Especially during finals week, because that's when everyone is in there.
37. The food is extremely hit and miss.
One day, it'll taste like heaven and the next it'll taste like cardboard. There is no in-between.
38. The gym is worth checking out.
That freshman 15 won't work itself off.
39. Looking presentable is a thing of the past.
Sleep dictates your whole life in college. If you don't have a class until 9:10, I guarantee there will be a ton of days where you snooze your alarm until 9 and roll out of bed just in time to put your hair in a bun and throw on some sweatpants, somehow still making it to class on time.
40. Money is hard to come by.
Buying things at Walmart and gas to get home are simple and small purchases, yet for a college student with no income it is like the end of the world.
41. ...but Starbucks on campus makes you forget all about your money problems.
Especially when said Starbucks is included on your meal card.
42. ...and I guess I learned some Chemistry too.
Apparently college is about getting an education, and since chemistry is the only class I've never skipped, that seemed like the perfect way to end my list.
So, there you have it: My first two terms in a nutshell. So, here's to finals week starting April 11, and to Spring Break starting soon after! We got this, EC. Nail those finals like they're the last things on Earth.
