Hello freshman!

So…. How was it? Totally different from high school right?

I feel like high school prepared us for a version of college that does not exist. I don't know about you but because of my dual enrollment and AP classes, I was expecting college to be just as hard (and it is not). I expected cliques, the mean girls table at lunch, full-on fistfights between a boy and the girl he just cheated on's brother, and people still wanting girls to cover their shoulders to no distract "the male students".

It wasn't AT ALL that. Maybe it is because of the school I went to but I have never felt so comfortable and myself in a space before. Classes were fun and we were treated like adults. No one cared what you wore but half the time you wore sweats with your hair in a bun while in high school, you did not want to show up without makeup on. Everyone was down to hang out with anyone. When I was in college, we had this field area in front of the freshman dorm living area and we would stay up until 4 am playing volleyball, sitting in a circle and talking, or going to our little food store and snacking. The fights happened more at the parties and were probably more dangerous than the ones in high school but that was outside the school's walls.

Anyways, the first semester is special but it can be super hard if you are still trying to find your place within it all. After graduating I realized, these things set me up for success for the rest of my college career.

Do Not Procrastinate

I probably sound like a parent right now but I promise that you should start this habit NOW. When you get to your senior year, you will be so over it all that you will need to rely on habits you have created to get you through the rest of it. I struggled with this and it did affect my grades and when I became a senior, I was last minute on everything even group projects and that is just not cool. In my Master's program, I finish everything early and then I move on with whatever I am going to do that week without worrying about it.

Leave Your Dorm Door Open

This was a huge thing my school kind of enforced on us while moving in. I went to a Christian university so our door had to be open anyways with the opposite sex but it became such a cool way to meet people. People would walk by and say hi or introduce themselves. There were times we would be watching movies and people in our hall would stop in and watch it with us. It might sound weird but it kept every day exciting. It's hard to make a new community if you're not willing to jump out of your comfort zone.

Give Yourself The First Year To Be Available

My biggest regret was being so busy with outside activities for my first year. I had a full-time volunteer position, a boyfriend who lived 30 minutes away and scheduled myself for 7 am classes (do not do this ever). My roommates would be so sad that I was always gone. I was trying to grow up so fast and start my life so I tried to live outside of the "college lifestyle" but it truly is such a special season of life. Let it happen and embrace it. You will not have it forever.

Start Self Care Now

Yes, daily Taco Bell might sound BOMB right now but your poor body is going through so many changes already. Just because you are staying awake late hanging out with friends doesn't mean you need a daily 3 am snack. Eat when you are hungry, obviously, but sometimes food can either become a comfort when you're missing home or a social event you don't want to miss out on. Allow yourself to make better food decisions and have fun meals here and there. Get active daily and start that habit now. Make sure you are sleeping enough. Even if you feel mentally fine, still invest time in your school's counseling services to help through your lifestyle change. Do this now!!

Join In The Fun

My school was the QUEEN of activities, on and of campus. Literally there was something to do every day. I joined a volleyball intramural with my friends and it was so fun. We had weekly games we would practice for and it became a great bonding opportunity. Take advantage of your school's activities, off-campus trips, sports events, etc. It is hard to find things like this once you graduate… and it is weird to be doing these things with college kids once you do graduate.

Best of luck in 2020 freshman. Make it YOUR year.