I just began (three weeks ago but who’s counting?) my senior year of college! I am excited, and by excited I mean every day feels like a day closer to the impending doom of reality and I want to go back to freshman year and never leave this life.
As I watch the new freshman (not in a creepy way) I want to pull them aside and shake them and tell them everything I wish I had known as a mere eighteen year old attending college for the first time. But I control myself and don’t grab teenage strangers I don’t know and yell weird things at them… I put them in an article.
1. If you live really close to school and maybe even have a car- do not go home every weekend. I repeat DO NOT GO HOME EVERY WEEKEND.
I know it might be tempting at first. A real laundry machine, food, people who care about you, a big bed to sleep in, blah blah blah. But the more often you go home the less often you are in your dorm which means the less often you’ll be spending time with these new strangers you live with which means whoops everyone's made friends and you haven’t. Force yourself to cook weird microwave meals with your roommates, go to floor events that seem lame, meet people and make yourself uncomfortable! You might meet a new friend at, like, pajamas and pizza or some other weird event your RA throws.
2. Don’t skip class often.
I know its so easy to when you’re in college. Your roommate probably doesn’t care that much if you go to Macroeconomics and your mom and dad aren't there to make you go and you’re really into American Horror Story at the moment. But… just go. There will be someday this semester that its 80 degrees out and everyones going to the lake or you get an awful case of strep throat and you’ll need that absence. Don’t miss class just because you can. Miss it when you need to.
3. Go to the party.
Just go. It’ll be fun. You’ll probably see some people for the first time outside of class. Wear a cute outfit you borrowed from one of your new friends. Get ready together. Enjoy the time you have. Go to the party and have a good time and stay out all night or have a bad time and leave with your friends and go to some diner and talk about it. But go, and use it as an opportunity to develop these new, weird friendships. Believe me. Go.
4. Don’t get sloppy every day.
I know it's tempting to wear sweatpants to class and, again, mom isn’t there to tell you that you cant leave the house in men’s sweat pants and a half see-through tank top. But just because you can go around campus like that doesn’t mean you should. You’ll feel so much better if you clean yourself up and feel confident walking into class. Love yourself,homie. It happens. Every once in a while you sleep till 9:18 for your 9:25 and you gotta skkkkkkrt to your class in what you slept in and your glasses. But don’t make a habit of it. Present yourself nicely. You’ll feel one thousand times better.
5. Don’t drink Jungle Juice.
Actually, do it. See what happens. You’ll learn.
6. The first friends you make probably won’t be the friends you keep.
The first seven people you go to the dining hall with for the first two weeks will not be your “squad” for the next four years. I remember someone told me this and I was like “no way she’ll be my friend forever” and then all of a sudden she starts only hanging out with her boyfriend, or her sports team, or steals your clothes (or your man), or turns out to be a sociopath. Who knows. Trust me, branch out. Don’t think that your first friend or first roommate is going to be your number one forever. (They might be don’t cut them off just because some random girl on the internet told you to) Be willing to start hanging out with that girl your Psych class or the dude you met at the party. I met my best friend at college when she asked to use the coffee maker in my dorm for Ramen noodles.
7. Dump whoever you’re dating from home.
Don’t care! Dump ‘em! Right now! Grab ya phone! See ya!
8. Build a relationship with the professors that teach your major and/or minor.
I know that sounds kind of boring in comparison to the others but do it. It will make your life so much easier.
9. Be a little selfish.
If someone is texting you while you’re out and you don’t want to chat- don’t answer. If you want to go to a school event and your roommate doesn’t- go anyways. If you want to lay in bed all day for no reason- stay in bed. One of my teacher’s in high school told me before I left for college that these four years are the only point in your life when you have the most freedom and the least responsibilities. Sure, class and extracurricular are a huge pressure. That wasn’t what she meant and it isn't what I mean either.
When I say the least responsibility, I mean you (most likely) are not taking care of a child, or paying a mortgage, or working a nine to five. You probably aren’t taking care of elderly parents and you probably are not a mother or father, yet either. Your responsibilities are ones you should be able to handle. And the best part is how free you are at this point in your life. There are not many more years where you can go out till morning on a Tuesday and do homework on a Saturday and sleep until noon on a Sunday. Take advantage if you have the opportunity.
10. Hangover cures.
Hot shower, ice water, Diet Coke (NO ICE), a big breakfast, and some snuggle recap time with your homies.
11. Enjoy this shit.
It goes by so quick. I would give anything to have another few years here. Enjoy every second you get. Every damn one.
