Freshman year itself seems like a lifetime ago, but somehow I am transported into the heart of that unsure, scared girl every time I remember telling my parents goodbye after they pointed out they were the last parents left on move-in day. It's so hard to remember the details of that first year at Montevallo, but I can never forget the rollercoaster of emotions from that brief time when everything was new.
When giving my freshman self advice, I would begin with what was needed to get through that first two weeks. The most important thing I would tell myself is not to be afraid to "go it alone." It's so easy to latch onto a group of people and do everything together that first week, but it's so much better to attempt to break out of your comfort zone while you still can. Because the great thing about being new is that you can introduce yourself to as many people as possible and no one will think you're weird for it. An example of this would be in the cafeteria-- if there's a group of people who look sane and decent that you think you could be friends with you can go up to them and ask if you can sit with them because you're new and don't know anyone. Another reason I wish I hadn't been afraid to go anywhere alone is because for the first month of school I honestly had no idea where my classes were because I had the same classes as one of my friends and would follow him and go on autopilot like I tend to do when I'm talking. When he couldn't go to class one day I realized just how lost I was, but luckily I was able to recognize someone in my next class and followed them from an acceptable distance so they wouldn't know I was following them. The most important reason to be confident enough to go somewhere alone is that it enables you to do everything you want to do. Your friends aren't always going to be interested in doing the same things that you are all the time and sometimes you'll have to branch out to experience all that you desire. (Disclaimer-- this doesn't include going to a party at two a.m. in a shady part of town. I was referring to going to an art exhibit or poetry showcase on campus preferably during daylight hours alone. Use some sense here).
Another crucial piece of advice to any incoming freshman is expect nothing to go as planned. That perfect layout of your dorm room you had in mind before move-in day, your supposedly perfect first day of school outfit, times you thought would be ideal for going to the gym or caf? Be flexible. Not every room in the same residence is set up the exact same way so pictures of dorm rooms on the school website aren't always the best way to decide your entire layout. Two of the rooms I've had in college had geometric mirrors in places I would rather hang a poster of Abe Lincoln. Also I wouldn't plan a first day outfit at all. I would adjust based on the weather because of my unfortunate experience-- let's just say my bright blue shorts stained things because I was sweating profusely based on my choice to wear long sleeves. And lastly, I won't begrudge myself those 2 a.m. talks with my sorority sisters because I wanted to go to the gym as soon as the sun came up. The gym is also open at 3 p.m. after all. However, the biggest surprise I had when I entered college was that I hated my major. I was less than interested in the day-to-day events in small towns which appeared to be the majority of the work in mass communications, and the idea of speaking in front of a camera sounded as pleasant as swallowing a bee. This led to a tearful visit to career counseling services and an uncomfortable phone call telling my parents I decided to become an English major instead. This unplanned choice is now the best one I have made in my college career even though I constantly have to tell people that no, I do not want to teach, at least until I have my doctorate. The beauty in college is the flexibility, so be flexible.
If you're still with me, here's a piece of tough-love advice: DON'T BE A SNOB. This means: don't judge based on appearances, stereotypes, or even shy away from something from fear of judgement. So, for you girls who think sororities are a kind of cult that you should only join if you can't make friends-- try to make friends with someone in a sorority or even go to a recruitment event. And for people who think anime is strange-- study or ask about what anime is and why people are so passionate about it. We all want to be loved and understood and supported. What we do with our free time is our means of achieving it. Just because you can't understand something doesn't mean that it should be dismissed.
A last piece of advice to myself and others entering college-- take advantage of different services the college offers. This includes career counseling services, counseling services, student health services, the student health services, and SGA events. These programs were put on campus to help you and to make your college experience a positive one. Take full advantage of them. I wish I had, but I didn't begin using them until my sophomore year. It's hard to get good grades when you're not taking care of your health, and you deserve to feel like you can take out time for yourself.
