College. A time in most people's lives where the first taste of living on our own, taking care of our own needs, and not having someone to remind you to go to class, is first hand. It's weird for the first few days, but once you finally get the hang of it, it's really easy. But that little in-between area where you kinda don't know what to do with your time outside of class is really confusing and can be overwhelming. So, I composed a list of my own things that I definitely underestimated about my first few weeks of college.
1. You really are on your own.
When I had something I wanted to tell my parents this time last year, all I had to do was go tell them. They were right across the hall from me, or even in the same room. It wasn't that big of a deal to me until I realized I had called my parents at least 5 times in two days. Which is expected from a kid who went from living in their parent's house to being an hour and a half away with only being able to call them when you think they'll answer amongst their busy working days. It's different. I'm not able to run and tell them things 24/7 because I usually sprout onto other ideas when doing so, and that is way too much to type.
2. You make your own decisions.
Hmm, do I really want to go to class today? Do I need to wash clothes yet? I do not want to walk to the cafe to eat today, I'll grab something in my room. To walk or to drive, that is the question. These examples aren't the only things going through college kids' heads but I feel like these are among the ones that are always stuck like a post-it note in our minds. But, everything you decide to do at college is all on you. Whether you get dropped from a class you didn't want to go to because it's "just too early, I'll go to the next one". But that "one time miss" turns into "I dropped you the second week" when you go to see your final exam score. So, I guess what I'm saying is, yes make your own decisions but make the good ones.
3. You won't be reminded of homework deadlines.
You know in high school when you would be reminded multiple times in one class that "your homework is due at the beginning/end of class on Thursday!" and you got so tired of hearing that, but still people didn't always get it turned in? Well, in college, you are on your own for the most part. Homework, sometimes tests, and projects are something you take your own initiative on doing. Nowadays, things are all online so your activities for your English class may be due October 1st at 11:59, and though your teacher may explain such activity to you and your fellow classmates, you are on your own to realize that even though today may be the middle of September, you've still got to get that done on your own.
4. You WILL make new friends, even if you think you won't.
Even if you're an introvert like myself, who told herself that she would NOT make new friends at college, you will do just that! You will (hopefully) be friends with the person you're sitting next to in class because you are right next to each other and that's the best time for you two to get to know each other. It isn't really as hard as you think, either. Trust me, I'm not one to start conversations very often, but the girl right next to me and I share a love of art, and had we not spoke about that, I may have never found out that connection we shared. So, don't undermine yourself, you will make all sorts of friends.
5. It isn't at all like high school.
This may seem obvious, that college isn't like high school. But I don't mean academically. You know how when you were a freshman in high school, people tried (and maybe sometimes succeeded) walking all over you, telling you to go to the wrong rooms, etc? Well, college isn't like that. This goes back to you are on your own. You're not treated like a "little baby freshman", even though upperclassmen can pick us out sometimes, but you will not have to be nervous around older kids, who were once just like you, young and lost.
