My favorite line from one of the people I interviewed: I still remember how excited I was for college. Then I got my first C, and it all went downhill from there.
It's the end of the school year, for both high school and college students. Which means college decisions are finalized, and the scent of overt-pre-frosh-optimism lingers in the air.
Optimism is a good thing. But as someone who just survived her first year of college, I thought it was only right of me to inform the current pre-freshmen of what lies in wait for them. So here we are.
Without further ado, here's 7 things freshmen year taught 7 different people...the hard way.
1. "COLLEGE. IS. HARD."
"They don't tell you how to deal with these things in high school. I wish I was exaggerating. What the hell even is APA formatting? You go to college to learn, but ya gotta learn to learn how to learn. It's crazy!"
"You thought you knew how to study in high school...until college hits you. I still remember how excited I was for college. Then I got my first C, and it all went downhill from there. I promise you, you're gonna have to rework how you study, rework your whole work ethic, practically, if you wanna succeed."
2. "It isn't what they say it'll be."
"It isn't like the movies. Not every one is happy to be there. And not everybody wants to be your friend; sometimes no one does.
It can get super cutthroat. If you do end up going to college, make sure you understand why you're there. Define the outcome you're gunning for, and don't ever forget it. It's too easy to lose yourself in the lavishness and prestige of it all."
3. "Make the most out of it!"
"Once people make it to college, they think that that's it, that they've made it. They struggle through the classes, get their degree, and get the hell out. But they don't realize how lucky they got it, that college is a privilege. There's so much resources here to take advantage of, it's like they're trying to prepare you for success or something! Oh, yeah...
So make the most of it. You'll probably never be around so much opportunity, so many great people, again. You don't know how good you got it until it's gone."
4. "Nothing is certain. Especially not your major."
"I can't tell you how many times I've changed my major, and it's only been a couple of months. College really does expose you to everything, and it does a great job of it, as well. I went from being a staunch pre-med kid to pre-business and now I'm currently pre-law. When will it end?
But don't worry. That's most freshmen. We're only kids; how the hell are we supposed to predict what we're going to spend our life's work on just yet? So relax. Take your time. Because you've got a lot of it."
5. And, most importantly: "Remember your roots."
"Oftentimes, college is one's first taste at adulthood. It's our first time being on our own. No mom, no dad. No one to do your laundry or help you file your taxes. No high school teachers to pump you up, no high school friends to pick you up when you're down. Oftentimes, this is when most of us realize how lucky we are to have what we had back home.
So cherish that. Call your parents. Tell them you love them. Call your high school buddies. They're probably missing you, too.
Do not ever forget how you got here, and the people who helped you make it this far. It's just too easy to lose it all when you lose who you were before you came here."
Optimism is a good thing. And, pre-freshmen, y'all should be excited. The rest of your life is just up ahead, after all.
