College is a time to make mistakes and learn from them. To be honest, if you don't do anything wrong, then I'm not sure how you're growing up and learning how to be an adult. But take it from some of the mistakes I've made-- these qualities will make college, relationships, and your life a lot more difficult.
1. Callousness
Being callous is setting yourself up for people to call you some choice words. Sometimes, you have to have a soft heart and show compassion to others. Being callous is a way to show those around you who you think is most important (surprise: yourself!). Being interested in other people, in other topics and world views, and generally straying from being insensitive to other people around you will help to make life less bitter.
2. Unfriendliness
If there’s one thing to make people cringe at the sight of you, it’s being an unfriendly jerk. “But I’m an introvert,” you yell from the rooftops. “I just have resting b**** face, my day is not going as planned, I don’t actually like people, etc.” You still need to show up and have a smile on your face. Being an introvert isn’t mutually exclusive with being mean. Show those around you that you’re listening. Be active in conversations! It may be hard, but throwing yourself out there and talking to others can really positively impact your college life.
3. Unfaithfulness
Yeah, don’t cheat. Don’t tell lies about other people. They find out, and you look like an idiot. Being faithful means being loyal. Be honest with your friends. Love them with your whole heart and give your relationships your best. If there comes a time when someone you’re friends with isn’t working out anymore, talk to them. Don’t leave them stranded and wondering why you keep ignoring them/hanging out with others/ having a general disregard for them. Be open and be honest. It makes college & life a lot easier when you actually care about your friendships and not just what benefits you.
4. Flakiness
That being said, do not flake out on people. If you commit to something, follow through with it. Don’t tell an organization/committee/job that you’ll do something and then not do it. Don’t tell your friends you’ll do something with them and them screw them over by deliberately not going through with it. Once again, honesty is the best policy. If you really can’t do something (it’s an emergency, you’re sick or you have no money to do the activity if it’s a friend outing), then talk to that person or group. People understand, but only when you are honest and compassionate. Think ahead; if you know it isn’t in the budget, don’t say “yes.” If you think you’re going to become “burned out” then don’t agree to a big commitment.
5. Distrustfulness
Once again, do not lie in your relationships with others, with your professors, with your parents. People rely on you and have expectations that you will need to keep up, so don’t indirectly hurt yourself by directly hurting others. You wouldn’t expect your best friend or significant other to lie to you, so don’t be disloyal. Practice kindness and have high standards for yourself. I promise you will have steady, loyal, and honest relationships with others.
6. Procrastination
This one is honestly HUGE in college. I’m always procrastinating and wishing I wasn’t so stupid for waiting. But this isn’t just with assignments— you can procrastinate to tell someone you can’t make an event, you can procrastinate in group work, cleaning, eating, exercising (!!), and many aspects of your life. I procrastinate in doing a lot because I can have a lot of anxiety about doing things— but once I finish them, I feel so in tune with myself and “on top of things.”
