Dear Class of 2019 (and all future classes who will read this): Congratulations! You’re now a part of one of the most prestigious student bodies in the country. Here’s a few tips to make the most of your time here at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

1. Don't Think It Won't Happen to You

I received this piece of advice my freshman year from our convocation speaker. At the time I thought, “Yeah, yeah, whatever. It won’t happen to me.”

However, no matter what “it” is, it will happen to you. Georgia Tech is a whole different ball game from anything you’ve ever experienced. Things that you didn’t have to worry about in high school become your biggest problems. For me, it was adjusting to the difficulty of college and bombing my first Calc 2 test... and I'm not talking about a little grenade. I'm talking atomic bomb. And I had easily made A's in my dual enrollment Calculus classes in high school.

So yeah, it will happen to you.

2. Find a Community

Whether that be in a Greek organization, an on-campus ministry, a service organization, or one of Tech’s many, many clubs, make sure that you find a small community to help keep you grounded in these crazy four (or five) years ahead of you. In the transition from high school to college, you go from being a big fish in a small pond to a little fish in a huge ocean. It’s important to find a smaller community with similar interests as you to support you through all you’ll be facing here. For me, it was joining Alpha Delta Chi, Georgia Tech’s Christian sorority.

Georgia Tech’s Jacket Pages lists the gaggle of clubs we have on campus. Be sure to check it out.

3. Get to Know the People in Your Dorm

You’re going to be living in very close proximity to the people in your dorm for the next year, so make the most out of it. Go eat together, have laundry parties, study together, etc. After your freshman year, you won’t have that same kind of community wherever you live (except maybe in Greek housing). I made some of my best friends in my dorm my freshman year. Also, make friends with your PLs. They’re students just like you and are really awesome people! Reach out to them for any questions you may have, and just spend time getting to know them. If you make the effort, they’ll become both great resources and great friends.

4. Make the Most of Your Education

Georgia Tech is difficult for a reason. The curriculum is rigorous because it’s worth it. If it wasn’t worth it, none of us would be here. We suffer through the late nights and push through the big projects because we know that we’re learning the skills that will someday hopefully get us our dream job. Work hard and learn as much as you can while you’re here. Many of Tech’s professors have done some pretty incredible things in their lives, so take advantage of the knowledge they’re offering you.

5. Go to Sporting Events

First of all, our football team is actually kind of good right now (30>24), so enjoy those exciting games while you can. Exercise your school spirit by going to other GT sporting events as well! Games are a fun, free way to hang out with friends and support your fellow Yellow Jackets. Even if you’re not much of a sports fan, I encourage you to go to at least one non-football sporting event this year. Go enjoy our awesome band, cheer on our student athletes, and hunt down Buzz for a picture. My freshman year, I went to volleyball, basketball, and baseball games, and they were all fun times.

6. Explore Campus

Now, I’m not just talking about taking walks down new streets every once in a while. Explore all the different buildings! Tech has a lot of really interesting architecture. Exploring new buildings can lead to finding new study spots. I like switching up my study spots so that I don’t get sick of one place. So every once in a while, take a trip to a new building and see what’s there for you to explore. You might find your new favorite paper-writing corner or the next great group meeting spot. One of my favorite spots is the secret computer lab in the basement of the Old CE building.

7. Don't Think You Have to Have It All Figured Out

Take advantage of the opportunity your first year to explore all the different major possibilities. You may already be completely set on your first major, and that’s okay! But it’s also okay to keep your mind open to other majors. By keeping your mind open, you may discover that you love some other major even more than the one you’re in now! I came into Tech undecided and took a wide variety of classes my first semester. After taking the introductory international affairs class, I realized that international affairs was a practical degree I could see myself enjoying, and I declared my major to INTA. College is a time for you to explore all the possibilities and find out who you really are and what you're really interested in doing with your life.

8. Work Hard, Play Hard

Your time at Georgia Tech, whether it be 4, 5, or 6 years long, is fleeting. When you look back on your college years, what do you want to remember? Do you want to think fondly of the fact that you spent all of your time at your desk? Or do you want to remember the spontaneous trips with friends, the times you collapsed laughing at nerdy jokes, and the crazy stories of memories that could only have been made in college? Some of my favorite memories from freshman year include going to get Cookout milkshakes at 1:30 in the morning, having a dance party in the laundry room at 4 a.m., and baking around a hundred cookies with my roommate in order to make friends in our dorm. This time in your life is unique. Take advantage of it and make the most of it while you can.

Welcome to Georgia Tech. I hope you enjoy the crazy roller coaster of a ride that is your time here. It will be hard, but it's worth it. Ultimately, when you start to feel discouraged, remember: You're at Georgia Tech. You can do it.