As my freshman year of college comes to an end, I can't help but think back to the beginning of the year when I was full of expectations on what college is supposed to be like. My expectations where pretty high, which is a good and a bad thing. Luckily, I was able to fulfill the majority of what I wanted to, but it didn't happen right away. Here's what I wish I knew when I was an incoming college freshman.
1. You won't always meet your best friends on the first day.
There are plenty of people I met my first semester of college that I don't even talk to anymore. It took quite a while to become good friends with the friends I have now. Coming in to college, I thought that I would have met all of my best friends within the first couple of weeks. While I personally did meet a few of my best friends within the first week, I didn't meet some of them until around the middle of the semester.
2. Make sure to study. A LOT.
Classes are a lot harder in college than they are in high school. You NEED to study in order to succeed. While you have a lot more free time, that doesn't mean that you should neglect your studies to do things that you want. College is expensive and not doing well would be a waste of money.
3. Don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone.
I was so afraid to be myself during my first month in college. I didn't want people to think I was weird and judge me. Looking back, I wish I would have opened up more because I would have been able to meet more people and probably would have done some of the things that I didn't do because I was too nervous to do so. While it's extremely hard to get outside of your box, I promise you it is completely worth it.
4. Don't be afraid to do your own thing.
If your friends want to do something that you don't really feel like doing, then don't do it. Spend your time that way you want to and don't worry about appearing to others as a "loner" every once in awhile. It's perfectly acceptable to eat meals by yourself and study alone.
5. Put your phone down every once in awhile.
The beginning of freshman year, I was constantly on my phone because it was comforting and a safety net for me. I didn't have to talk to people in person because I was already talking to someone over a screen or looking at social media. I missed a lot of conversations and experiences because I was living through my phone. While sharing pictures of your life is okay, make sure that you enjoy the moment rather than just trying to get the perfect picture of that moment.
6. Don't be afraid to ask question and go to office hours.
The majority of your professors love getting asked questions and helping their students. Don't be afraid to go and get help if you need it. Believe it or not, you will not look stupid for getting the help that you need. Professors are not scary at all and they really enjoy getting to know their students.
7. College flies by.
Make sure to try to enjoy every moment of your time here in college. It goes by so much faster than high school and there are so many more opportunities for you to take advantage of.
