Entering college is an exciting, yet overwhelming time. Many freshmen don’t know what to fully expect.
If you are about to be a freshman in college, you should expect homework and hours of studying. You should expect to meet a lot of people. Some will become your friends, while others you will steer clear of. You should expect some good times, as well as some bad. College is unpredictable.
As I enter my senior year, I can shed some light on what to expect for anyone entering his or her first year of college.
1. Be open. College is supposed to be the greatest four years of your life. Do something you’ve never done before. Maybe that’s joining a club that you never thought you’d join. Maybe that's doing something you once feared. Maybe it’s simply trying a food you have never tried before. Be open to all of the doors that may open, because you never know where they will lead you one day.
2. Study. You may think that college is all about partying. However, you actually are there to get an education to set up your future. Take the time to study for tests. The saying might be, “C’s get degrees,” but you shouldn’t take the easy way out. Getting good grades is important because some jobs actually look at your GPA.
3. Watch what you eat. The freshman 15 is a real thing if you don’t watch what you eat and if you drink your calories in jungle juice. After consuming multiple red solo cups full of vodka and soda, you will want to hit up McDonald’s for a late night snack. Don't.
4. Watch what you drink. Watch your drink; it’s easy for someone to slip something into it. Those videos your health teachers showed you are actually true. People do get “roofied” and wake up in unknown places. Avoid being that person. If you have to go to the bathroom, either take your drink or get a new one when you return. If it doesn’t look safe, don’t drink it.
5. Explore. Ever wonder where all that tuition money goes? Sometimes it goes towards the flowers planting in the spring or that new state of the art building. Try to get to know your campus and see how truly beautiful it is.
6. Make friends. This is an obvious one. You might be going off to a college where you don’t know a single person. That will change. After the first week of class, you will get sick of introducing yourself. However. don’t let that stop you from making friends with as many people as possible. Some of the people you meet in college will be in your life for a long time. You might meet a best friend. You may meet your college sweetheart. You might even meet the person that will break your heart. College is a chance to meet many different people from many different places.
7. Get involved. Join clubs. There are so many clubs that schools offer. You can even start your own if you feel passionate about something that isn’t already offered. Maybe you’ll be interested in joining a sorority or a fraternity. There are social ones as well as business and service ones. Also consider joining a club team or an intramural sport, as they are a great way to meet people and stay in shape.
8. Exercise. I’ll admit it, I didn’t do this and I regret it. Like I said, the freshman 15 is a real thing. A little bit of cardio and weightlifting will go a long way. Even walking around campus can be beneficial and keep those pesky extra pounds off.
9. Call mom and dad. If I don’t call my mom and dad at least once a day each, I get an angry phone call asking where I am and what I'm up to. Whether your parents are supporting your education or not, they helped you get to where you are one way or another. Give them a call, even if it is not every day. Tell them you love them. Tell them about the test you did well on. Tell them about the party where you met a cute guy. Actually, you don’t have to tell them every detail. But checking in now in then will go a long way. They’ll appreciate it, trust me.
10. Keep track of how much you are spending. In my first month of college, I spent $500. Keep track of how much you spend. It will teach you how to watch your spending and will give you a good start on how to manage your funds for the future.
11. Ask questions. If you aren’t sure of something, ask someone. Upperclassmen like me have the answer to just about everything. Of course, your professors and advisors are there to help you, too. Don’t be afraid to ask a question, even if it's in a lecture hall of 300 people. Odds are, there are lots of other people with the same question.
12. Don’t take any moment for granted. College flies by, especially if you're having fun. Make the most of every day. You’ll want to tell your children and grandchildren about how great college was. LIVE IT UP!
If I could do it all over again, I would. However, I wouldn’t change a thing. You will make stupid decisions that might leave your head in the toilet and make for a nasty hangover the next day. Yet, college is an excuse to have fun. I had some great times with some great people, and those memories will last a lifetime.
However, don’t forget what college really is. College is a way to set up the career that you will probably have for the rest of your life. Study hard so you don’t have to retake that brutal 8 a.m. class.
Finally, while there are a lot of maybes in this list, it's only because college is unpredictable and I can’t say for certain what will happen. What I do know is that you are in for an incredible experience. Congrats on your decision to enter college. Now show the world what you are made of.
P.S. Don't wear the lanyard around your neck. You'll thank me later.
