Ah, college... It's a place where you can observe young adults trying to figure life out in their natural habitat. It's a place where you meet your best friends, come face-to-face with an impossible class, and, if you're like me, consume gallons of coffee. Throughout high school, I had this fantasy of what college was going to be like, and watching my older sister pack up and leave for college definitely got me thinking even more about what college life would be like. Now that I'm in my sophomore year, here are some things I wish someone had told me about college life:
1. No one knows exactly what they're doing.
Everyone around you, even seniors in college, are just trying to figure out their lives. If anyone seems like they have their entire life in order and everything is peechy-keen, chances are, they're lying to you.
2. You may not find your "squad" freshman year.
Yes, you may meet plenty of amazing people in your first year, but don't feel pressured into thinking you have to find your friend group for the next four years immediately. It's completely normal to make friends past freshman year.
3. Professors are there to help you!
Confused on a concept? Wondering what classes you should take? Don't be afraid to ask your professor; yes, they can be intimidating, but their job as an educator is to help you learn. Also, office hours are a great way to get help, and score some brownie points with your prof amidst a sea of students.
4. Your old study habits from high school may not work for college classes.
A lot of times, trying to find your go-to study habits is all about trial and error. If you bomb a test or assignment, think about how you prepared and what you can do next time to improve.
5. Don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone.
Join a club you never thought you'd join, take a class about something entirely foreign to you, or even just take a different route to class to see new people. Whatever you chose, don't miss out on the opportunity to try something new.
6. Sometimes, you may just start crying for no reason.
It could be homesickness, stress, worrying about the future, or seeing a dog that remotely resembles your own dog back home. Regardless, embrace your emotions and just cry it out.
7. Self-care is essential for success.
You can't perform at your best if you neglect taking care of yourself. Yes, this means you have to try to be healthy, exercise, get at least a few hours of sleep, and reward yourself every once in a while.
8. College is hard. It's perfectly normal to struggle.
College is one of the hardest things you will ever do. It's okay to feel like you don't have your life together. There are people all around you going through the same thing, and remember that the rough times don't last forever.
