College: one of the biggest learning experiences a person will go through in their lifetime. Some refer to college as "the best four years of our lives", and so far; I can attest to that statement. I've been at college for a month, have had multiple exams and experiences, and I've learned so much. Here are 5 things that I've learned in college, so far.
1. Sleep is pretty much a thing of the past.
No matter how hard you try to go to bed at a decent time, no matter how much homework or studying you've already done and no matter what time you went to bed before college, you will more than likely never get more than five(ish) hours of sleep on a week day. My roommate and I are lucky if we go to bed before 11-12 on most nights, and that's been one of the biggest adjustments for the both of us.
2. No one cares how you dress.
That old sweatshirt you've had for years? Wear it. Those gym shorts you love but you never wear outside of your room? Wear them. Wake up late to throw your hair up into a ponytail? Embrace it and laugh at it and yourself, because you're not the only one who will be doing the same. It's college. We've all had rough days and we're all here to learn, and we better be comfortable while doing so. So dress for comfort, not for anyone else.
3. Meeting people isn't that hard.
I've always been a really shy person, so meeting new people has never been something easy for me to do. So when I went to college, I was terrified and didn't expect to make many friends within the first month. . . but I'm friends with almost everyone on my floor and the floor above me, with a number of friends in various classes. Just strike up a conversation with them, trust me.
4. My roommate and I have our privacy, even though our beds are literally six steps away.
I was worried that I would feel very enclosed with in my room, like my roommate and I would never have our own space; but that's the exact opposite. Even though we are in such a tight space, we both have/give each other the privacy we need on a daily basis without isolating one another or hovering over them. We respect each other and each other's privacy, which is something I'm so grateful for.
5. College classes are nothing like high school classes.
In high school, I sailed through. I took loads of AP courses and duel credit online college courses, yet I didn't spend hours upon hours studying for tests; simply because I didn't need to. I knew what was going on, I kept up in classes and the tests and work came easily to me; but in college, it's the exact opposite. I have to spend hours upon hours studying for tests, quizzes and regular daily work. I spend hours with my nose in textbooks just to keep up with class discussions, and that was a big adjustment for me. It's college. There's no one to tell you to keep up with your work, and no one reminding you everyday before dismissal of what you need to do before the next day. You're in charge of yourself, and that can not be emphasized enough.
