Much to my dismay, finals are only rolling closer and closer. This means saying goodbye to Tech until August. No more midnight DX runs, no more dorm movie nights, no more tailgates, no more watching Netflix until 3 a.m and then starting my homework. As much as freshman year has kicked me in the butt, it's hard to say goodbye. I'll miss all the memories I've made, all the people I've met, all the things that I've actually learned from going to class. But, as I leave I can only hope to leave the door open for the future Hokies to come. Here's a list of things I learned freshman year that should be passed on.
1. You need "me" time.
There will always be times for you to go out. There will always be "fam" dinners to attend. There will always be midnight adventures to have. But, you don't have to attend them all. Seriously, if you have a big exam the next day or if feel like your insides are mush, don't feel pressured to go "do something." Education is just as important as a social life and getting healthy is more important that a night out. There's nothing you can't see from a Snapchat story.
2. The gym is your best friend
Tech food is the freaking best. So is the off-campus food. But eating West End every single day is not going to go over well if all you do is go to class and nap. I entered college and I hated going to the gym. Now, I go at least four days a week. If you don't want to gain the inevitable Freshman 15, or if you just need something to do, go to the gym. McComas offers plenty of group classes to take as well as a plethora of machines. There is truly something for everyone.
3. Do not miss football season
You can't truly become a Hokie until you've attended a football game. There's something about jumping to Enter Sandman along with 60,000 others that words cannot describe. Yes, it is normal to wake up at 8 AM on gameday and not sleep until 2 AM the next morning. Embrace the maroon and orange. Drag yourself out of bed and walk down to Center Street. You won't regret it.
4. You really don't need the biggest dining plan
This is an unknown secret. I came in with the Premium dining plan and I had almost $200 leftover. I even switched to the medium sized dining plan, and I still have $160 plus the $200 rollover to spend in less than two weeks. Unless you plan on eating every single meal every single day on campus, save your money and opt for something smaller. If you ever run out, you can always add more on.
5. Coffee will also become your best friend
I cannot stress this enough. There will be times that you will have to pull all-nighters. Or you will have an 8 AM three times a week. Coffee is the only thing that has kept me functioning this semester in back to back classes. My recommendation? Peet's coffee in Turner. (It's even on the meal plan)
6. Get lots of fans
Most dorms do not have any A/C. My roommate and I have 5 fans in our room. This is a serious thing
7. You can't trust everyone
Okay so this sounds really scary, but it's more of just "watch your stuff wherever you put it." My dorm has more than one instance of a laundry thief ransacking through dryers. Especially expensive things, like Lululemon and Polo. Unless you want to loose $70 pants, I suggest watching your laundry closely.
8. It's okay to miss home
Four hours seemed like the perfect distance away for me, but boy was I wrong. Along with regular holidays, I went home at least two other times per semesters. There's nothing like sleeping in your own bed and eating a home cooked meal that you can get at college.
9. Don't expect to have the same habits as high school
Studying is not the same as high school. I never studied and was able to maintain a 4.2 all of high school. At Tech, if I don't study the highest grade I can get basically a C. Professors here take their jobs seriously, and you should take your academics seriously. You don't want to take all your W's (withdrawals) first semester, or your upperclassman self is going to be very upset.
10. Getting involved is really important
Not getting involved first semester is one of the biggest mistakes I made. Getting involved allows you to meet so many more people than classes and dorm life can teach you. Second semester is always a chance for rush, but even still it is good to have a foundation of friends to help you through life. I met most of my best friends towards the middle and end of second semester, and I would give anything to have more time with them this year.
