College is such an exciting time but it can also be overwhelming, especially during the first couple months. As first semester is coming to a close, here are some key things to remember that will make your college experience so much sweeter.
Have Your Voice Heard: Become an Odyssey Creator
1. Have confidence in who you truly are.
Sounds cliché right? Not really.The first couple months are so vital to the rest of your college experience and if you start out pretending to be someone you're not it only makes life way more complicated. We are attracted to people who we find real and authentic and there's nothing more authentic than being exactly who the Lord made you to be. So be you. Stand confident and know that there are people who will love you for who you truly are.
2. Get out of your comfort zone.
College is such a foreign experience. If you live your life only doing things that you are comfortable doing, then you are going to miss out. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable. So, ask the random person next to you if they want to get coffee after class or go sit next to the guy sitting alone at breakfast and start a conversation. You never know what friendships can spark from spur of the moment decisions to step out of your norm. In college no one is going to come grab you out of your dorm, so take the initiative and pursue friendships even if it makes you feel a little uncomfortable.
3. Don't let your organizations define you.
This is hard, very hard. In college its super easy to find your value in what things you are involved in and what organizations you have been chosen to represent. It's so dangerous to place your identity in these things because they are temporary. They can be taken away just as fast as they were attained. On the other hand, do not think less of yourself if you are not involved in the "elite" organizations at your school. Those do not define you and honestly, politics usually play a factor in any type of membership in an organization.
4. Be intentional with high school friendships.
Whether you went to the same college as your high school friends or y'all are thousands of miles apart, it is important to maintain the friendships you value no matter how far the distance is between each of you. College is such a busy time and there is so much pressure to make new friends, but do not let current friendships that you truly care about slip through the cracks. Set aside time to call. Be intentional. Stay involved. There are so many ways to stay in touch, all it takes is willingness to put in the time and effort to keep up with the people you love.
5. Take care of yourself.
It is so easy to run yourself in the ground the first couple months of college. There are so many things going on and theres always something to do. But don't forget to take time for yourself. Spend time alone. Go workout. Get a decent amount of sleep when you have the chance. Stay in when you're feeling like you're about to get sick. Remember that it's okay to be selfish sometimes. There's this word "no" that so many of us have eliminated from our vocabulary because we are afraid of what we might miss, but occasionally it's okay to turn down an invitation.
