I have 3 weeks remaining of my Freshman year of college. Wow is all I will say.
I don’t mean to be cliche, but I do think there are some things to be said. To all high school seniors who are busy making college plans, there are some things you need to hear. You may think you know everything and feel 100% ready, but trust me there are things that you won’t even coming next year. Here are the things, that I will tell you.
1. Your life is going to change, it will be hard, it will be okay.
Things will not be the way they were. You won’t be able to eat your mom’s home cooked meals. You are in a new living space, you are with new people, you will become a slightly new person when you go to college. There are going to be weird for a few months, it’s the time of adjustment, you won’t feel comfortable. Your life will change. You will be okay. My advice, cry, talk to someone, call your parents, but do not keep it all bottled up. You would be surprised who is going through the same roller coaster that you are.
2. Do not come to college in a relationship.
You are young, you are about to start a new chapter of your life, you are going to be on your own. You are about to meet so many new people. Leave high school in high school. Do not come to college in a relationship. I know there are obviously people who have been together for years, you cannot imagine your life without that person. But, college is a new start. Do not follow your boyfriend or girlfriend to college either. Make your own choice, do what is best for you. If it's meant to be, you and your boyfriend/girlfriend will reconnect and reconcile. But the first year, you should be focused on you. Which means, you should be free to date other people. You should be single when you come to college, that’s what I’ll say.
3. You are going to lose certain high school friendships.
High School friendships don’t last forever. That’s okay. I know for me, I definitely distanced myself from certain people my last few months of High School. Two of my best friends are from my high school, however, our friendships have changed. I have met other people and they need to be understanding of that. We are all different people now, that’s okay. My advice, don’t force a friendship if it’s clearly changing. If people want to be your friend, they will stick around. But don’t expect everything to stay the same.
4. The friends you make the first few weeks of college most likely won’t be the same friends you have.
In the first few weeks, everyone is desperately trying to find people who are in close vicinity of them. People are trying to find their group. Most likely, after a few months, these people will not be the people you who are friends with. People drift apart, they change, it’s how it is. Just do your thing and find people who you can be comfortable with.
5. Branch out, try new things, but focus on the things that make you happy.
An important part of college is to branch out. Try new things, have fun, changing is okay. Do things that make you happy, but remember who you are. Stick to your morals but know that it’s okay to not be the person who you were in high school. I’ve changed a lot and I know it’s not a bad thing. I’ve changed for the better, that is a part of life.
6. My final advice, let things go and bask in the freedom, independence, and incredible growing opportunity you have in college.
New people, new experiences, and an opportunity to find out what makes you happy for work, study and surrounding yourself with kind people. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and you will regret it if you go through stressing about slights or inconsistencies or expectations and shortfalls from people in your past or anxiety about the future ahead. Lean in and live in the moment. The whole world is laid out in front of you. Enjoy it with all of your heart and minds. Find the interests and people that give you goose bumps and don’t settle for or get caught in pettiness form others. Discard and move onto a better hand.
