Anticipation always swells around the beginning of freshmen years, whether we're entering the jungle of high school or the Amazon called college. The same stigma follows us around the campuses, chased with the catcalls of "freshmeat," and the disgusted mutter of "freshman" under the elders' breaths. We don't quite know what we're doing in either situation, but if I could, I would travel back in time to give my high school freshman self some pointers from now, as a college freshman.
1. It truly, truly does not matter what you wear. Do you still have a dress code to abide by? Sure, but that doesn't mean you have to spend your mornings stressing yourself out over what to wear, because of the fear of what others' will think. I can promise you, they won't think twice. Until you're in the workplace, you can wear slippers and a dress and your peers wouldn't notice.
2. School is your job for the next eight years. Hate to tell ya, but it doesn't get easier. There's senior year when you can "relax" (how does one relax with the stress of college applications, figuring where to live, and finding a roommate?) and take some easier classes, but that doesn't prepare you for what comes next. You can work, but school should always be first. This is for your future.
3. Don't push away your parents. I know sometimes you're going to feel like your parents are purposely trying to ruin your life, but everything they're doing and everything they've done, it's because they care. And you'll see that when you're in college, miles away from them, wishing you had someone there to make you a grilled cheese instead of picking at Easy Mac in your dorm room.
4. If you're having trouble, don't just raise your hand. Try to ask your teachers about it all privately. Even if you just email them, it's better to try and ask your questions when you've got them one on one, and you're not one of however many students. This not only gives you help for what you need, but it helps you get a leg up. You're no longer Girl-In-Middle-Row, you're actually a name. You're making a good impression and this is something that you'll need to do in college.
5. Make all the memories you can. Go to all the Friday night football games you can. Don't be afraid to ask your parents to go out one night. Stop holding yourself back from hanging out with someone new, or doing something spontaneous with your BFFs one weekend. Go on a date with a boy who makes you snort because he makes you laugh so hard. Take pictures. Some people say high school is the best four years of your life, others argue that college is. They're wrong. High school and college together make up the best eight years of your life, and you should do everything you can to enjoy it, to create stories you'll want to tell your children one day.
