When I moved in on the first of September I was one big ball of energy. I could not wait to get back into the swing of things. Sadly, things weren’t as I expected. Here’s what I’ve learned so far:
1. People leave (and have no intention of coming back)
At the very start of your freshman year, you have all these people talking to you and letting you know the cold hard facts. No, college is not like the movies. Yes, a lot of you will switch your major, not once, but multiple times. And the scariest fact of them all? You won’t all make it to the end.
Because of the excitement that grabs a hold of you freshman year, you forget about that. You start making what you think will be lifelong friends, and the thought of you not having this person you clicked with so fast in your life seems absolutely ridiculous. I mean, come on? They’re basically your better half (or fourth or sixth or eighth)! But the harsh reality is that people do, in fact, leave after freshman year. College isn’t for everyone (and your college isn’t for everyone), and it’s a terrible feeling when you find out that someone important won’t be there to enjoy the new parties, movie nights, and shopping trips. But just remember that new people will also come!
2. You think of everything that has existed ever
Listen, I love my sleep as much as the next girl, but sophomore year comes with a really scary realization that sometimes prevents you from doing that: it’s sophomore year. That means that things are moving at what seems like lightning speed. After sophomore year, life get even more serious. Internships? GPA? A JOB? You think of it all, and you want to start truly setting down the foundation so that you can transition into these things as seamlessly as possible. You want to start planning for everything all at once. The result? A mid-life crisis.
3. You will do things alone a lot more than you assumed
One of the great things about college is that you can do things alone and people don’t judge you for it. Oh, you’re eating alone? That’s cool. Studying at the library alone? Proud you’re not procrastinating. Sitting on a bench and looking at the sky? Same, to be honest. The thing about sophomore year is that even though you are aware that no one is paying attention to the fact that you’re doing things alone, it dawns on you that, well, you’re doing things alone. It was never like that last year. Your friends were constantly around, maybe even around too much, but it never bothered you. Now that life seems to be picking up speed, though, people are more likely to say, “No, sorry, I have to study.” It might come as a shock to your system, but just remember there’s nothing wrong with spending time with yourself!
4.Your definition of fun might undergo some tweaking
When freshman year starts, everything is fun. The simplest things - like going to a supermarket with your friends at midnight - are covered with a rose tint. Nothing is boring, everything is peachy. In sophomore year, your rose-colored glasses come off, and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. With all of the thinking you’re doing, you start to realize that, sure, you want to do all of those fun things that make college truly memorable, but sometimes, you have to put yourself and your work first. Just remember that there is nothing better than going out on a Friday night knowing that you finished all of your homework for the weekend.
5. You realize that you might actually be able to get through this
Even though you might always be on the verge of a mental breakdown or, more likely, tears, you feel that you have the strength to overcome everything that is and will be thrown at you. You’ve figured out how to handle the workload, you know the campus like the back of your hand, and although you might not see them often, you have friends. Sure, you have no idea what the future holds exactly, but does it matter? No, because right now, you’re handling life just fine.
