Since my first semester at college is coming to an end, I want to take a moment to write about what I have learned and experienced since I have began living on my own.
1. Self Care.
Being away from home for the first time is definitely a challenging thing, especially someone like me who has been taken care of their entire life. Their was no one telling me to eat or telling me what I should eat; no one to tell me not to eat that candy before dinner or even not to eat candy for dinner (which sometimes happened). When I first got to school I binged on SO much junk food because no one was there to tell me not to. I have improved my eating habits since the first few weeks of school and now I am much, much healthier, but it was something I had to find balance with.
2. Time Management
I take more naps than my 3-year-old sister; which is kinda sad, but you got to do what you got to do. For college kids, you are either doing one of four things: sleeping, eating, sitting in class or doing homework. Sometimes in special cases you can be doing multiple things at one time, like In class doing your homework while eating. Learning how to get everything I needed done and everything I wanted to do done was a big challenge for me.
3. Rooming With A Stranger
As the oldest of three, I have always had to share many things but a room was never one. So, coming to college and meeting a random stranger that I would be sharing a room with was a HUGE thing for me. I was completely scared I was going to get stuck with someone crazy that would stare at me while I slept. Thankfully, I was extremely lucky and got the best roommate a girl could ask for! She is actuality one of my closest friends and someone I tell almost everything too.
4. Finding My College Family.
When I had decided on UNC Asheville, I did not know anyone else here. At first, I was terrified because no one from my high school was coming here, but it actually ended up being the best thing for me. I have made friends that I can call family. We are a small group, but I can trust them and lean on them when something is going on. We even have family dinners once a week to check in on each other.
5. Seven More Semesters To Go
This semester has gone by incredibly fast. People told me before and after I moved to school that this time of my life would go by in the blink of an eye. While the next 3 and half years seem like they will take forever, they will go by faster than we realize. So we need to have fun and not stress about every little thing because we are only here for so long.
