FIVE THINGS WELCOME WEEK TAUGHT ME
Summer is ending, a new school year is starting, and for us freshmen, our lives are about to change quite a bit. We need a week to help us get oriented to our new surroundings and to get used to the idea of being on our own. Whether you're moving to a different city, state, or even country, Welcome Week is pretty essential in not only meeting new people, but also in figuring out where to go and what to do. On that note, here are five things that Welcome Week taught me.
1. Put yourself out there.
Even if you go to a college where a lot of your friends are going, make sure to put yourself out there and meet new people. New friends are always good to have, and you never know what kind of connections you'll make if you just hop out of your comfort zone and push yourself to go talk to someone you don't know. Sure, you might end up not really connecting with some people, but some of them could very well turn into your best friends. Just make sure to go for it, or else you might miss out on meeting some really great people!
2. Walk your schedule. More than once.
Many college campuses are huge, and if you don't walk your schedule during Welcome Week, you'll be completely lost when the first week of school comes around and you don't know where you are. Go by yourself or take a group of friends with you, but make sure to walk around and familiarize yourself with the campus and where your classes are. It'll make your first week so much easier and less stressful if you already have an idea of where you're going and how long it will take you to get there.
3. Go to as many events as you can.
Think of "Welcome Week" as a synonym for "free stuff." At almost any event you go to during Welcome Week, there will either be free food, free sunglasses, t-shirts, or even iPads and TV's. The more events you go to, the more free stuff you can get, and who doesn't like free stuff?
4. Always have a phone charger with you.
I cannot tell you how many times my phone died during Welcome Week. You'll be at events all day and in your friends' dorms, or out exploring your new town at night, which is bound to drain your phone at some point in the day. If you want to make sure you have your phone ready to go at all times, keep a charger with you wherever you are.
5. Relax. Have fun. Stop worrying.
If you're anything like me, going off to college was a terrifying, stressful thing to think about. I spent so much time worrying about what could go wrong when I got there that I didn't realize how much fun it could be if I just relaxed. Welcome Week is meant to be a time when you can have fun and meet new people so that you're not completely on your own when classes actually start. Remember to let yourself do that, and stop worrying about the stressful stuff; it can wait.
