After a long, hot summer, August is finally here. Which means that college classes start back up again soon. Which means recently graduated high school seniors are now starting to transition into the college life -- buying bedding for their new mattresses, decorations for their new walls, and hot pots for their new kitchen-less living spaces. But becoming a college freshman isn't easy -- so many people tell you so many contradicting things. College is difficult and you need to spend all of your time studying, but your college years are some of the best years of your life! You'll never get any sleep, but you'll have plenty of time between classes to nap. Oh, and don't forget to make friends outside of your major, even though you should really only focus on classes that coincide with your area of study. As a recently graduated college student, I'm here to tell you that it's all true, even if it contradicts. What you do in college, how you live, what friends you make, and your success all depend on who you are as a person and your decisions. Part of what makes college so great is the independence, and that's why you can decide to ignore all of the advice people give you, take it completely and live by it, or decide what works for you and go with that. After four years, here's what I found to work best for me, and I hope that it works for you, as well.
1. You may regret it at first, but take the earlier classes. I know that getting up at 7 a.m. might seem like the worst thing in the world. In fact, it might even seem a little high school. After all, you didn't go to college to abide by a strict schedule or to get up before the sun comes up. And while it might take getting use to, it's really worth it. While some people are going to classes at 3 or 4 in the afternoon, you'll be done as early as noon and off to enjoy the rest of your day.
2. It may feel good to procrastinate now, but you really will regret it later. You've heard it before -- college is not like high school. Sure, you have to study a little harder, but don't forget about the papers. In high school, starting a paper the night before it was due was nothing. In college, it's a little more than doing research online. For one thing, some papers require that you have a set number of physical sources, meaning books or studies. Your school's library might have them in stock but, if not, starting at least a week before your paper is due will give the library ample time to order you the sources you need.
3. Join the groups that you think would be interesting. High school after school programs are limited. College club choices are endless. Try something new, whether it's an intramural sport, animation club, cooking club, or even something political. These clubs will help broaden your horizons, give you something to put on your resume, and even help you to meet new people.
4. ...But don't do too many things at once. You might want to try everything, but don't stretch yourself too much. You still need time for classes, eating, sleeping, and friends, which you can't do if you join absolutely everything. Pick one or two things that you really enjoy and stick with them.
5. Don't be discouraged if you don't do as well as you had hoped your first semester. College is hard. It takes a while to get used to. Sometimes the first semester doesn't go as well as you had hoped, especially if you're trying to get all of the core classes out of the way first. So, just because you don't do so well in calculus or you completely fail chemistry doesn't mean that college is over for you or that your GPA is a lost cause. You have plenty of time to make it up, and plenty of filler classes to give you a little boost.
6. Take classes you think are interesting. You don't have to just stick to your major or minor. Core classes might be annoying, but they give you a reprieve from learning about the same subject class after class. Even if you finish your core, don't be afraid to keep taking art, sport, or any other class that you think you'd find interesting because those classes might teach you something about yourself. Maybe you'll decide to change your major, or add a concentration, or they might only serve to give you a little GPA boost.
6. You don't have to go to the gym every day to be healthy. Let's be honest -- running on the treadmill sucks. But "The Freshman 15" is totally real. So if you hate the gym, but you love eating, try something new. Take a walk, join an intramural team, or even just go outside and play some Frisbee. Anything that gets you moving will help you stay healthy. And if you're really daring, try Meatless Monday. At least then you'll get your recommended dose of fruits and veggies at least once a week.
8. You deserve a break every once in a while. Yeah, it's college. Yes, it is serious. No, you do not have to break your back and destroy yourself while you're there. College is supposed to be fun and you definitely deserve some fun once in a while. No matter your major, you deserve a break. Whether that break is a nap, a Netflix binge-a-thon, or a night out on the town with your friends, take some time to relax. College is short and you should give yourself time to enjoy it before you graduate and have to become a real adult.
