The best thing about college is definitely the freedom to make your own decisions and, of course, experience all of the things that you were curious about in high school but could never try (thanks mom and dad). From going to a club for the first time to meeting people from all over the country, freshman year of college is all about "firsts." And what better way to talk about my first year at UNCG than using GIFs from one of my favorite TV shows? "The Mindy Project" demonstrates that mistakes make for great stories (and great television), so why not put yourself out there?
1. The first time staying in with friends
Sure, I've had plenty of sleepovers at friends' houses before, but in college it's different. You can stay up as late as you want doing whatever you want without worrying about waking someone's parents up. And, of course, games of truth or dare are much crazier when you have an entire college campus to work with.2. ....And the first time going out with friends
The world outside of your dorm can be a scary place but, with the right people, it can also be incredibly fun. Sure, staying in and binge-watching Netflix is fun....for the first few weekends of the year. Eventually, you find yourself wondering what the outside world is really like, and that's when you know it's time to try something new. Sure, it can be pretty traumatizing, but at least you can say you tried.
3. The first time meeting a super cute guy who actually seems interested in you
You're in the caf/at a party/in the library studying when you spot him across the room; the perfect guy. And when you make eye contact for the first time, it's a magical moment. You exchange numbers, flirt a little bit, and suddenly you find yourself thinking about him more than homework. Even though you know it'll inevitably come to an end after a few weeks, it's still fun to pretend that you've found the one.
4. The first breakdown/moment of questioning everything
College is mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting. Sleepless nights and piles of homework have a way of getting to you; my first all-nighter almost broke me. There were times when dropping out seemed like the only option, until I remembered that hard times really make me appreciate the good ones. And that is what college is all about.
5. The first time having to figure out financial priorities
College is a serious financial wake-up call because, let's face it, it's expensive. In high school, I was used to having a job and getting a paycheck every week, but I wanted to focus on college this year. So for my first few weeks, I fell into a bad habit of buying coffee at least 4 times a week which did not go over well with my bank account. I didn't truly understand people calling themselves "broke college students" until I started living it.
