No one lied when they said that college, or life itself, is a learning curve. I feel like there is always two options when a curveball is thrown your way. You can use it to better yourself and learn, or you can let it take over you and shut down. Don't worry about if you'll ever have enough experiences to become a well-rounded person because college will provide you with more than a few to go out into the real world with a bag of tools in your hand. Here are a few lessons college has taught me so far:
1. If you stress about having stress you'll end up more stressed.
There is a lot more on your plate than you're used to having and it's entirely normal to get overwhelmed. It'd be a little peculiar if you didn't get a little stressed from time to time. However, you can't let the stress consume you because it will only make the situation worse. You may have three tests this week, two papers due next week and a lab report to hand in by Friday, but I promise you will be okay. You have to take one assignment at a time, one day at a time, and one week at a time before you take one year at a time. Stop thinking ahead and running yourself into a wall with all the work you have to do and make a list, and cross each task off at a time. Trust me you'll feel like you're conquering the world with each "x" you make.
2. Take time to make yourself happy.
This goes right along with numero uno. If you feel down, stressed, or just "blah, take the time to make yourself happy. No, you're not being selfish, you're doing something healthy to make yourself feel better. It is not wrong to take time away from all the craziness and not care about making others happy to make sure you yourself are in a positive place. Go get your nails done, go get a wax, go get a random tattoo, put on a face mask, go to a spin class, hey streak across campus if that's what it takes to put a smile on your face. Just make sure to make time for YOU.
3. College is a lot different than high school, but it's also pretty similar.
No one was wrong when they said that college is definitely an adjustment from high school. You have never experienced a workload like this and it will it like a train at full speed. It's the first time you don't have your mom or dad to help you write an email or help problem solve or make an appointment for a tutor, you're on your own. But you know what, you'll learn quickly. What has to be done will get done because you will get it done all by yourself. That's right, you can adult. College also isn't too far off from high school because there will still be the "jocks", the "band geeks", the "cheerleaders", the "nerds", and everything far off and in between. The difference is, you learn to not care. The people who support you and accept you for you will be the ones standing next to you when you marry the love of your life and the ones who don't, you'll see on Facebook occasionally and that's perfectly okay. But no matter the people you meet, you will have memories to last you a lifetime, laugh so hard your abs hurt, dance down the halls in fuzzy socks, slide down the stairs on your butt on the way to get food, jump in the elevator, and go on spontaneous adventures to tell your kids about. You will find your 2nd home.
4. Learn to have some fun and put positivity back into the world.
Learn to laugh a bit more, smile a little big bigger, hug a little bit harder, and live life to the absolute fullest. God didn't give you this life to waste on grudges or sad times or to not think that what you have isn't enough. He gave it to you to be the child he created. You are smart, you are an individual, you are caring, you are loving, you are strong, and you are going to conquer life and everything it has to offer. Never doubt yourself and what you have because you are more than enough. You will pass that test. You will make it through that crummy week. You will do any single thing you put your mind to because you are YOU. Spread that same positive attitude out into the world and let other people know how awesome they are because it takes such less energy than spreading negativity into the world already full of hate. Gandhi once said, "be the change you wish to see."
5. Home will always be where the heart is, or Heart will become your home.
As much as you try to be a strong independent young adult, your family will always have the key to your heart. A call to your mom will always make you feel better. An "I love you" from a grandparent will always put a smile on your face. A hug from your dad will always make you feel safer. And even a slap in the head from your annoying brother will make you laugh. Don't discredit the amazing support team you were blessed with. You'll always have cheerleaders on your sideline and that's pretty awesome if you ask me. And you'll even make a new family full of crazy, loud, loving people just like you. They may not be blood, but a sorority is still family. You now just have over 100 new siblings to be there for you, but you don't have to drive an hour and a half to have a laugh anymore. You can jam to Drake, do some cartwheels, and stuff your face anytime you need with some pretty amazing sisters. Don't forget the original homies who got you through the last 4, 6, 8 years of your life.
Matthew 6:34
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
