Incoming freshman you are going to learn some hard lessons during your years in college, and that's okay. Just remember you're only human and you will make mistakes, so you might as well laugh about it. Here are 5 lessons I think you should know before your first day on campus.
Sneaking a boy into the girl's bathroom is harder than you think
Some parents reading this might roll their eyes, but people who know what I'm talking about knows how hard it is to sneak a boy into the girl's bathroom. All you want to do is take a shower with your s/o but that is easier said than done. My advice is: both have your cell phones ready, you homegirl need to book it to the bathroom and check for feet in the stalls and if you hear another shower going. If you think you can make good time text your boy, it's clear and pray they don't run into another girl or RA. I know I'm not the only one who has done this before. I mean, we are in college.
You are going to room with someone you don't like
I have had 4 roommates in 3 years. Two doubles and a triple and girl it wasn't two peas in a pod from the start. I think I've butted heads with every roommate, but a lesson I've learned and will continue to take with me when I start my career is you're going to work with people you don't like and that's how life is. You're going to have roommates all throughout college on campus and off, and you're not always going to be best friends with them and that's okay. You will find coping mechanisms with their messy side of the room, them using your things (including your shower cap sometimes,) and you will come on the other side once you move out.
Pulling an all-nighter isn't in your best interest
I Callaghan have only pulled one all-nighter and it only made my day worse. My anxiety was horrible, caffeine I thought would wake me up but only made me shake and make me more tired, and I ended up doing horrible on the things I studied all night. All-nighters are not in your best interest. You are better off studying for that test or writing that paper throughout the week than in one sitting. Sipping coffee from midnight to six AM is not the answer. Getting enough sleep, eating, and taking breaks are in your best interest.
Don't be so hard on yourself grade-wise during your first year of college
Transitioning from high school and college can go three ways. You were a straight A student in high school and you're not in college, you're a straight A student in high school and you are in college, or you had horrible grades in high school but have a good GPA average in college. Transitioning is hard on your mentally, emotionally and physically. You're surrounded by strangers, you don't know where your classes are until like the second month of school, and you're still trying to figure out how to write a 10-page paper without rambling. Don't be so hard on yourself with your grades. Your first year of college is going to be a rollercoaster, but you will be okay.
Not graduating on time doesn't make you any less worthy or a failure
A lot has happened to me personally, in school, and within my family that I didn't graduate in 4-years and that is okay. That doesn't make me any less smart, or worthy than any other student on that campus. Sure, other twenty-two-year old's are going to get their Masters and I'm recovery from 3 surgeries over the summer, and a death in the family. You and I not graduating on time doesn't make us failures. We are just going through some things while attending school and that will only make us have stories to tell at the end. You will graduate when you're ready to graduate. Don't take too many classes and do too much at school. If you can't do your best work with a full plate and 18 credit semesters then that is okay. Take care of yourself and do what is best for you in the long run. Ignore the ignorant people and graduate when you complete school on your own terms and at your speed.
