Summer is quickly coming to a close, and future college freshman around the country are beginning the gather their things for college. Here are a few things you need to know before stepping onto campus for the first time as a real college student.
Command Strips are a must.
If you would like to hang anything in your brick box of a dorm you will need command hooks and strips. Nails and a hammer will not help you create this new space into a home, and thumbtacks wont always be able to do the trick depending on the kind of walls you have. Decorate away with these magic sticky foam strips and create a space that is all yours.
Know where the nearest Target/Walmart is.
During the craziness of move in you will forget something at home, it could be as simple as a hairbrush so knowing where the nearest store is important. This will also help you get to know where other stores and restaurants are near you.
Reply to your parent’s texts.
I know the constant buzzing of your phone your first week away from home is annoying, but this is a huge change for your parents too. They are just worried about you, and the least you can do is answer every third text or so. This will relieve not only their stress but your own.
Don’t be scared of your professors.
Whether your class has five or 100 students in it try and connect with your professor. They are really smart people and have a lot of wisdom to pass on to you. Allowing them to get to know you can help you later down the road in the class and can even help you score an internship or job.
It’s OK to have two homes.
Your home will always be your home but so will your college. Your friends will become like family and the staff will become like parent figures in the new life that you are creating. You will still count down the days until you get to go back to your hometown for the weekend, but you will also feel like you are missing out on stuff back at your college. You will feel weirdly torn between the two, but that’s OK –– it’s just a part of growing up.
You will be poor.
No matter how many jobs you work on top of all your schoolwork, you will always be poor. And when you do get money something will always pop up causing you to spend it (for me it’s always online shopping) causing you to be broke again. It’s also OK to say no to something because you don’t have the extra cash. Staying in, ordering a pizza and watching a movie can be more fun then a night on the town for a cheaper price.
You will change in college.
No matter how awesome and grown up you feel right now, this will all change when you step on campus for the first time. You are going to be tested not only in the classroom but also socially. You are going to be exposed to so many things, and you will be allowed to form your own opinions about them. You will become a somewhat functioning adult by the time these four years are over –– at least that’s the goal –– so learn and grow as much as possible.
As you prepare for your school’s move in day remember to take everything in because the next four years will be the most stressful, wonderful years of your life. Take chances, push yourself and enjoy every second of it because it will be over before you know it.
