After having finished midterms last week I am officially over half way done with my first quarter as a freshman in college and the only thing I can say for sure is that it is absolutely nothing like I thought it would be.
As someone who really thought they had the rest of their life planned out after graduating high school, college has taken everything I thought to be true or real and thrown it out the door. While at times it has felt like my whole world has been turned upside down, there’s nothing like a change of scenery to open up your eyes to some important life lessons. So here they are, everything that college has taught me after seven weeks.
1. You may have thought you knew what you wanted to do, but you probably didn’t.
While I wasn’t always 100 percent sure of what I wanted to do in school, I always thought I had a pretty strong sense of who I was and who I wanted to be going into college. After having actually been here and been exposed to so many different people and experiences, I am certain that I have absolutely no idea what I want to do with my life. That’s the beauty of it all though. You can be whoever you want and you can take your life in any direction that you choose. The hard part is figuring out what that might be.
2. Living is expensive.
While it might sound fun to go out for every meal and go shopping twice in the first week, you will definitely regret it after the fact. The dining hall isn’t that bad and your clothes from home still work, save your money for something that matters more.
3. Doing your homework doesn’t always have to be painful.
College has shown me the beauty in grabbing your computer and your book and leaving your dorm. Some fresh air and a walk to the library or a cute coffee shop can make doing what you need to do a little bit less frustrating. On top of finishing what you need to do, you get to make a day out of it. It’s a win-win situation.
4. You’re going to meet wonderful people, but they won’t replace the important people already in your life.
Probably my favorite aspect of college so far has been getting thrown into this brand new life with so many people that are in the exact same boat as I am, and they know absolutely nothing about me. As college students, we have the opportunity to get to know so many people with diverse interests and expand our individual worlds with the views and beliefs of our fellow students.
For a while I was so caught up in the excitement of these new people that I got a little distracted from the people that have always been in my life. The best feeling for me was when I realized that leaving for college doesn’t make the people in your life mean any less than they used to. It is important to meet new people, but you don’t have to forget the old.
5. Calling your family can make basically everything feel better.
While it took me awhile to figure this one out, I’m slowly but surely realizing that no matter what’s going on and no matter how far away, simply calling to say hi to a family member can make any problem seem much smaller and more manageable. Since I don’t always love to share my problems with others, really just catching up can do wonders. (If you have a pet at home, I recommend FaceTiming them. Trust me, it helps.)
6. You don’t have to be perfect and you don’t have to do everything perfectly.
As humans, we are supposed to make errors and the only way we can grow and learn is by making mistakes. I spend too much time worrying about doing things right and always being perfect. It is such a false notion that someone can be perfect in the first place that it is so silly that we try to warp ourselves into someone that does not reflect the truest version of ourselves.
Being in college has made me realize that everyone is just as lost and unsure of themselves as you are, and the only way to make the most of your time here is to put everything you’ve got out on the line. Don’t waste your time trying to do something perfectly. It’s going to be messy and it might even be wrong, but that’s what makes it worth it.
7. At times, you will feel lost and hopeless, but you’re going to be okay.
Being away at school is the first time I have ever lived on my own. Even only halfway done with my first quarter this is the longest time I have ever been away from my parents since the day I was born. The world feels a whole lot bigger and I feel a whole lot smaller laying in my dorm at night wanting nothing more than to be back in my room at home. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but feeling homesick can make you feel physically sick.
The main thing that keeps me going is just having a little faith in the system. I try to remind myself of how grateful I am to be where I am and trust that someday all of this confusion is going to make sense. Things might not be as easy or as happy as we had thought they would be right away, but you better make the most of it anyways.
