Moving into college for the first time is more terrifying than Jurassic Park in 3D. I didn't know it at the time, but freshman year move-in day was a complete mess. To give you a picture: I insisted that my dorm room be safari themed (seriously, I wanted it to look like rainforest cafe). When my parents left, I gave them a mediocre hug and a nonchalant peace sign to cover up the tears that were about to spill.
My roommate would hardly talk to me because she was so shy (or maybe because my side of the room looked like a jungle? To be determined).To top it all off, I, the most uncoordinated person on the planet, somehow ended up playing a pickup football game with the men's swim team, and till this day, I still cringe when I think about how terrible that was for everyone involved.
So, from someone who's been in your shoes and made A LOT of mistakes- here's a few things to keep in mind :)
1. Be yourself.
I'm sure you've heard this a million times, but it's completely true. It's really tempting to make yourself seem extra cool when you first meet new friends, but RESIST THE URGE. If you're not yourself, you'll end up with a group of friends who are nothing like you, and then you'll have to change who you are completely, or start all over and find new friends. Honestly, who you actually are is probably 100% cooler than the person you're trying to be. So, put your best foot forward, and don't cling to the first person who gives you a half smile.
2. The boy isn't worth it.
I promise you. He isn't. No matter how much of a big shot, superstar frat boy he is- he's not worth it. His killer smile and baby blues can wait. Focus on making forever friends, not following the gossip chain of who's hooking up with who. You'll be happier in the long run.
3. Get involved in everything and anything you can- but don't stress yourself out.
Sign up for everything that even remotely peaks your interest, then try them all out and see which ones are the best fit! But make sure you don't try to do too much at once and stress yourself out.
4. It's okay to miss home.
You don't have to act like you're not missing home so that your parents see how awesome and mature you've become. They'll be happy to know that you miss them :)
5. Don't share everything with your roommate.
From a jar of peanut butter to a printer, it's far better to have separate belongings :) Unless you're really good at confrontation or want to keep a running list of how many scoops of peanut butter you each took, I would invest the $3.97 for a jar of skippy.
6. Get out of your comfort zone!
Now is the time! :) Go do something totally crazy that you've always wanted to do just because you can!
7. Don't worry about the freshman 15.
You might gain a little weight since your body isn't used to all you can eat dining halls for every meal. But that's what the gym is for!
It flies by quickly, so take advantage of every opportunity you get and live it up while you can! :)
