College is a time of excitement, adventure, laughter, and blissful memories. You will learn more about yourself day by day--your likes and dislikes, the risks and challenges you are willing to take, and most importantly, you will unknowingly face some of your fears. Indeed, I miss high school (especially because I referred to myself as a kid) however, I have developed immensely personality-wise and experience-wise after just one semester into college. A sense of maturity and understanding gradually kicked in after facing the situations of balancing my social and academic life alongside time management.
College students seem to stress the negatives more than the positives. I certainly do not disagree with the rest of the college population. We stress the negatives because freshmen enter college with endless hope and expectation. Expectation that allows them to explore. Although I'm sure that they have heard of how overwhelming the workload is, it is difficult to see where it's coming from since they haven't experienced it yet. So yes, even though I am letting you know of how stressful the workload will be--you will figure it out and get through it by constantly falling. Falling down is the ugly truth of college, quite literally (unless you're going to a less populated college and are not as clumsy as I am). College is four years of nervous breakdowns, stress, an overwhelming workload, and chaos.
Although you will feel the need to give up and think of yourself as a complete failure, college gets better with time and patience. It's all about how much you give in to your experience at ANY college. Find the good in your college, in the people you associate with, in your passions, and in your goals. Do not let one or even a couple experiences or events ruin your life-long aspirations--or even the way you communicate with others. Do not let your emotions rule your mind, at the same time do not mute your emotions completely.
Attend the events and find your comfort zone, befriend new people, strengthen your friendships, and reinforce your will power. Will power plays the most important role in college. You will succeed as long as will is there. You will make decisions you won't regret as long as your will is there. You can continue your passions, as long as you fight yourself in order to find yourself. You will go through countless obstacles, hardships, circumstances, and instances where college will be nothing but a dread.
You're not supposed to become a new person after reading this, and you're certainly not supposed to prevent failure. These negativities are all part of the life cycle. I just want you to be aware of what to expect from college and what to expect from yourself. I want you to be proud of everything you start. It's okay if you don't finish some things as long as you find the one thing or things you enjoy and want to give your all into.
Try not to lose yourself and if you do, make gradual changes (in lifestyle choices) and reach out to at least one person you trust in order to have a better experience and to find yourself.
Make your college experience into one you will not regret--and it starts from freshman year! Don't be afraid to have fun, and don't be afraid to make changes! Just try your best to balance out your academic and social life and make your schedule in a way that will help you be more productive.
Feel free to contact or message me about my college experience, advice, and etc. as I am always here to help and give my honest opinions!
If anything, just go to the empty gym and dance (or sing) the stress away!!
