It's 11 p.m. the night before your life changes forever. You've said goodbye to all of your hometown friends. Your stuff is packed away in suitcases and all of your new dorm stuff is piled in the corner of your room. Your excitement blinds the reality of it all. You're leaving you're family, leaving your friends and your dog. You're starting a new life and it hasn't even hit you yet. You're entering adulthood, you're entering a life full of responsibility, and independence. Which is such an amazing opportunity, but you don't seem to realize how crucial this time in your life is. A lot of college kids leave their freshman year regretting a lot of things. Personally, I don't regret my freshman year. I enjoyed myself, but I left my freshman year doubting who I was and if I could go back, I would change how I prepared myself for school and the decisions I made during the school year.
Don’t take the time you have with your friends and family for granted.
Most kids leave high school excited to start new and to branch out of who they were in high school. Like drinking and partying. Not saying it’s a bad idea -- this is the time to enjoy ourselves -- but don’t forget the time you could spend with your friends and family. The times where you're sober and having heart-to-hearts or beating each other in a game of basketball. Once you're in college, you're home free. You can pretty much do whatever you want, but you don't get as much time with those you grew up with. We all know this: family and friends are precious.
Save more of your money.
People know that as soon as you get to the new environment, you’re excited to jump into every opportunity that’s thrown at you. But money is something you need to save up, because the clichéd “poor college kid” couldn't be a more true statement. Its not fun living paycheck to paycheck. Learn to say no in certain situations or find more inexpensive things to do. Spend the $5 and join an intramural team, maybe go to the arboretum and play some Pokemon Go or even just have friends over to your dorm lobby. There are tons of things to do if you aspire to overcome the cliché.
The first night your roommates want to go out, go with them.
Homebodies know how it goes: when Mom and Dad leave, the reality of no more home-cooked meals kicks in. I was homesick. I cried. I wanted to go home and cuddle my dog. But when your roommates are ready to go out and enjoy welcome week, do it! You only get so many welcome weeks in your life to enjoy! The buzz will help you get over it anyway.
Spend less time thinking about past relationships and concentrate on yourself.
Some high school relationships end just before college. The hard ones are the ones where they thought they had a future with them and that they were "the one," of which I am guilty. But I never knew that he was just a guy once upon a time in a fraction of my life. But I spent my freshman year missing him. I spent it single, but I spent it single and still hung up on a guy who probably doesn't even remember my name, which is fine. What was his name again? I just wish I spent my time working on myself and my confidence and who I want to become. Which is what everyone should do before entering a relationship. Love yourself. Seriously.
Be confident
Confidence is huge. I wish I had spent more time believing in myself than doubting myself. I had anxiety over every exam. I cried myself to sleep thinking that I was going to fail every exam. I didn't, but I beat myself up emotionally. It took a toll and it was a rough year. So when you walk into your first class, walk in thinking that this class is going to be a breeze, and knowing that you're going to walk out of that room a lot smarter than when you walked in. Don't be that girl crying about a test instead of preparing for it.
So when you move your stuff into your new dorm and hang up your pictures of your family and friends, leave some space for pictures of your new friends. Go into college thinking that this year will be your best. This is the year where you define yourself, where you figure out who you want to see yourself being. Go into class confident that you're going to absolutely rock this class. Be social and meet new people. Say yes to invitations but know when to say no when you think you're tight on money. But most importantly, enjoy yourself.
