1. It's okay to try new things.
If you asked me what I thought I would do in my free time at college one year ago, I never would have guessed correctly. The start of college is the perfect time to try new things. There are endless possibilities to what you could accomplish in the next chapter of your life!
2. You will grow as a person.
I don't think I realized how much I would change during my first year at college. I've grown to be stronger, smarter, and more independent than ever before. College has given me the chance to become a better version of myself, and I will be forever grateful.
3. You might not make new friends at first, but you will eventually.
It's okay to be shy. I stayed in my room pretty often in the beginning of the year. I watched girls meet new people that would eventually become their best friends, and hoped that I would soon have a blessing like that. Before long, I started to form lasting friendships with some amazing girls. Meeting them was one of the best things that could have happened to me, and I'm so glad I did. They've been there for me through my ups and downs and put up with my shenanigans. I can only hope that I'm as good of a friend to them as they all are to me.
4.Don't be afraid to change your major.
I set a plan for my life about six years ago. I had decided on my major, my college, and my future career all before I started high school. I took one computer programming class and loved it. I loved learning about programming, and the feeling of accomplishment when finishing a difficult project. I knew I wanted to make the switch to Computer Science, but I was scared. I thought it was abnormal to change my course, but I soon found out that it's actually relatively normal to change your major. According to the University of La Verne, somewhere between 50%-70% of college students will change their major at least one time before graduating. You may have doubts about your college plan, so don't be afraid to make changes if you feel the need to.
5. Classes are hard, but don't be discouraged.
College is a lot harder than high school. You will spend hours a day studying. You might study ten hours for a test and still not do as well as you wanted to. It's important to realize that you are attending college to gain knowledge. Yes, you do need a degree. Yes, you should work your hardest to get the best grades that you can. No, GPA is not everything. The information you are learning now will help you with your future career and endeavors. It will be useful in your every day life, so I don't regret a single minute of studying. Don't be discouraged by a single bad grade. In five years, singular bad grades won't even matter.
