You've survived four years of high school. You've had one last three months at home with the friends you've known your entire your life. You've said your goodbyes, you've probably cried, and now you're probably feeling a gut-wrenching mix of excitement and utter terror. As you get ready to move in to college and start the first year of the best time of your life, here are some things you should know.
You won't keep in touch with everyone from high school.
That's what you'll say you'll do to every single person you say goodbye to, but the reality is college changes people and it's likely that you'll drift apart from some of your former classmates. The good news is that being hundreds of miles away shows you who your truest friends are. The people that really matter are the ones that you'll see over Thanksgiving and winter breaks and it won't feel like anything has changed between you. And some people will surprise you- sometimes all it takes is getting away from the bubble that is high school to connect with someone new.
Don't forget the importance of your classes.
Going out and having fun is great, too, but don't totally neglect your classes- especially if you're in the kind of program that you'll have to apply to be accepted into after a few semesters. Those memories of partying every single night of your first semester won't be so fond when you can't get in to your major because you failed a class. A big part of being on your own is being responsible enough to be able to prioritize and balance fun and school, so you just have to find what works for you.
No one's opinion matters but yours.
Literally no one's. About anything. At all. About your major, about the guy that lives down the hall that you think is cute, about whether you party or not. All of the judging and criticizing someone else's decisions stay behind in high school.You're getting closer to the real world now, so just focus on doing what makes you happy and don't let anyone else's opinions or decisions affect you.
You get out of college what you put into it.
So go to football games. Go to frat parties. Introduce yourself to the girls that live next door that you think are really cool. Try a club sport or go Greek. College is a blast because you have total freedom, so make sure you do something with that freedom. Put yourself out there and try something new and chances are you'll end up with some great stories and some even better friends.
The only way to learn is by screwing up.
Don't freak out the first time you're embarrassed because you drank too much or you failed that huge exam because you didn't study enough or you hooked up with that cute frat boy even though everyone told you he would turn out to be a jerk. No one gets it all right the first time around. All the advice in the world can't prepare you for what it's like to actually be on your own, totally responsible for yourself and every decision you make. You're going to make a few wrong ones.
And that's okay.
Every other freshman on your campus is in exactly the same boat that you are, so don't think that you're the only one that's ever going to feel embarrassed or lost or confused. You learn from your mistakes, and you move on. College really is the best four (or five, or six) years of your life, so have fun, make the most of it, and enjoy it while it lasts.
