My freshman year has been one of the most memorable periods of my life. I have learned more about myself and my ambitions than I thought possible. The following five concepts are the most important lessons I learned my freshman year of college:
1. It is okay to not know what you are doing with the rest of your life.
One of the most common misconceptions about college is that every student walking the halls harbors one undying passion that radiates through every step they take. This misconstruction leads to low self-esteem and unnecessary stress among many undecided scholars. Some of us do not have an ingrained sense of trajectory with detailed directions on how to reach the destination; there is no shame in that. College revolves around learning about other cultures, societies, and career paths. Use this time to grow and experience the beauty that accompanies divergence. Not even the pre-meddies have it all figured out.
2. Your friends will be the ones left standing with you through the hard times.
Whether it be relationship quarrels or academic tragedies, college is filled with unfortunate events that eventually lead to the temporary loss of motivation. When the hard times roll, do not forget the people positioned in the background that you share terribly-named group chats with or play monopoly with at three in the morning on a Monday night just because you are all decidedly single and ill equipped to handle the outside world. These are the nights that will build friendships. Ultimately, isn’t a little stress worth the benefits?
3. Latch onto your roommate.
I lucked out in the roommate department. I was blessed with one that leaves the lights off until 11 am and does her hair in the bathroom because I’m an abhorrent morning person. This person lives literally three feet away from you- trust them. Whether they collect Pokémon trading cards or talk about politics in their spare time, learn their habits and respect their quirks- after all, this isn’t just your college experience.
4. Academics are important.
Although we would all like to believe that college exists for the social gatherings and Greek organizations, we all know it is quite the opposite. Luckily for us, we have all been blessed with the opportunity to pursue a higher education; many willing participants are not so lucky. While we all stress over cumulative finals and the threat of never claiming a decent job, it is especially imperative to take a step back and appreciate the good fortune that has been bestowed upon all of us; however, since everything is good in moderation, a Saturday night every so often will not destroy your chances of medical or graduate school. Do not waste your youth.
5. You will change.
This is one of the hardest concepts to grasp. Upon entering college, I firmly believed that I would make a difference at this institution, but it has actually inflicted a much larger effect on me than I would have previously suspected. The people you meet, the lectures you endure, and the relationships you forge will stick with you for the rest of your life; make the most out of this experience and do not fear the change that will inevitability occur within you. Change is not always negative and it is not always for the worse. Breathe in the campus and let it soak into you- you will not regret it.
Ultimately, the greatest tip one can give is to make the most out of this time in your life because never again will you be as free and blessedly irresponsible as you are now.
