While the first semester of freshman year is a time for learning, it goes way beyond academics. It’s the first time to actually be away from home, living on your own, in a new environment. This isn’t high school anymore; college is a completely different ball game. 

Here are a few things that I didn’t learn from class:  

1. Nobody cares what you do. Obviously, you have people who look out for you and keep you on track, but it’s extremely easy to get away with stuff you normally wouldn’t. Did that 1:30 class come a bit too early on Friday? Your professor doesn’t take roll and you have a friend to send you her notes. Feel like getting a HBCB at 2am after a long night? They’re packed at that hour anyways. You'll fit right in. There will always be friends to guide you along the way, but it’s the first time to actually be on your own and responsible for living the lifestyle you want to.   

2. Put yourself out there, but be aware of what you’re signing up for. I shoot to be involved in as much as I can, but mid-semester I found myself so over-involved that I didn’t even have time to enjoy the things I was involved in. In college, you have to juggle classes, sorority functions, study hours, service hours, and then extra clubs in you have time. Find one or two things outside of your chapter to be involved in, to put your name out there and make more connections. Find something that you’re passionate about, and stick with that. It takes effort to get involved on campus, and it’s your responsibility to get there.   

3. Don’t get in the habit of staying up until 1 or 2am every night, because you will begin to hate yourself for it. Obviously, staying up late in college can be inevitable. Our days get so jam-packed that we often look at the clock to realize it’s 11:30pm and we still have 3+ hours of homework to do. Respect yourself, respect your body, and make a schedule for your days. Because I’m here to tell you that 4 or 5 hours of sleep a night won’t get you through the semester any faster.   

4. Keep a journal. I didn’t do this, but I wish I would have. Have something where you can write about every day, because looking back in December, you’ll only have so many clear memories. A journal entry a night will never hurt, and they can be fun to read through down the road.   

5. Stick it out. There will be days when you feel like college is getting you nowhere, days when you’ve never felt more alone. College is hard. You are thrown into a whole new world with a new lifestyle, and the adjustment is different for everyone. Stay in contact with old friends and branch out to make new ones. Don’t give up, because in the future when you get to hold that much-earned degree above your head, you’ll be proud of all you accomplished.   

Embrace freshman year, because it’ll be over before you know it. It’s a time to learn about yourself, and it’s up to you to decide who you want to be.