Freshmen going into college always think they know what they’re in for, but the experience is always different for everyone. College isn’t always parties, late nights, and a million friends. College is full of many different aspects. Below I've listed a few that you may learn in your first month as a new college student:
1. Everyone is Nervous on Day One
No one wants to admit to being nervous on the first day of school, especially the first day of college orientation. Believe me everyone is nervous, some more than others, but everyone is nervous. No one really knows what’s going to happen during orientation or who they’re going to make friends with. But at the end of day one, those nerves will start to fade, and no one (besides close friends) will willingly admit they were nervous about coming to college.
2. Push Yourself to Try New Things
Many opportunities are going to be thrown your way the first couple weeks of college, push yourself to seize them, even if they’re out of your comfort zone. That being said, it’s okay to say no to some things because doing everything would be exhausting, and you shouldn’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. As contradictory as it sounds try all of the things that you want, just push yourself to try new things.
3. It's Okay to Miss Home
While enjoying everything college has to offer you may become a little bit homesick. It happens to the best of us. Call home, talk to your family. Don’t let the homesickness take over your life though. Still go out with your new friends and make sure to have fun. You don’t want your life to be consumed by your homesickness, and you’ll regret going home on the weekends instead of staying on campus with your friends. But at the end of the day it is okay to miss home a little, I mean you did live there for 18 years.
4. Take Care of Yourself
This seems like an easy one because you’re 18 now and finally on your own. But this is your first time truly without your family and you have to make sure to stay healthy, eat right, and do all the things that you need to get done. The café is full of unhealthy junk food, and you’re allowed to eat whatever you’d like and no one’s there to tell you to eat your vegetables. You should make sure to eat some vegetables, the "freshmen fifteen" is real. If you start getting sick, figure out how to feel healthy again; see health services, take medicine, drink water, anything to make yourself feel better. Make sure to rest, being healthy is important.
5. Time Management is Key
Once classes start, time management is truly key. You’re going to receive a ton of work, and you may have a few days but you should start as early as you can because those days go by quickly. You also should learn how to read without reading, as silly as it sounds you won’t have to read 150 pages a day if you learn how to skim. However, always block out some time to hang out with friends and grab some food or do something fun. Don’t always just do work, you'll stress yourself out too much.
6. Me Time is a Must
You might want to hang out with your friends all the time, but it’s okay to go back to your dorm and just lay in bed, you won't miss much of anything. If you’re out all the time you’re going to get sick of your friends. You also need to make sure you can get alone time in order to destress from all of the activities happening in your life.
7. Be You
The best thing you can do when you get to college is be yourself. Especially if you didn’t have the opportunity to be yourself in high school. Now is your chance! Don’t worry about what anyone thinks of you, the people who are truly going to be there for you throughout college will love you no matter what. So the best thing you can do for yourself once you get to college is to be who you're meant to be.
