As a soon to be senior at times I forget about the stress and anxiety I felt as a soon to be freshman. However, his year my little sister will be joining me at U of A as a freshman which is serving me as a strong reminder of what the life of an upcoming freshman entails. As I've been living at home for the summer, in the last month or so the memories of freshman year have begun flooding back into my memory. Here are a few things to keep in mind during this time of transition.
1. Just because it's in your cart, doesn't mean you'll get in.
GiphyDo not freak out if you don't get into a class your first semester. Contrary to what the little voice in the back of your head is telling you, it will not ruin your life nor will that one class hold you back from graduating on time. Graduation is four years away, part of being in college is learning that your class schedule and requirements will most likely shift around more times than you can count by the time you graduate, don't stress out! There's always next semester, winter session, summer session, and the multiple semesters ahead of you to take it.
2. You don't have to know what you want to major in right away.
There's nothing wrong with taking time to figure out what you want. Most colleges including the U of A require what seems like an absurd amount of gen-eds. I took nothing but gen-eds my freshman year; the reason I did this was because I wanted to look around and see what all my school had to offer. As well as give myself time to really find an area of study that I am not only passionate about but that adequately fits in to the life I plan on leading.
3. It doesn't really matter what dorm you're in or if you're in one at all.
Don't believe people when they say your social life in college is dependent on what dorm you're in and who you dorm with. Personally, my family and I decided that it was best for me not to live in the dorms my freshman year. Believe me when I say living off campus did not affect my ability to from close friendships not one bit.
4. Professors, for the most part, actually do care.
Professors, contrary to how they are depicted in high school, for the most part, truly want you to succeed. Phrases we've all heard in high school such as "you're lucky I'm giving you this, in college you won't have this luxury" or "I'm not giving you an extended date, you won't have that option in college", have become almost comical. The reality is, if you're a good student the professor or TA will see this and will most likely be willing to help you in every way they can. Oh, and by the way, I can't tell you how many times I've stayed up all night finishing an assignment only to wake up in the morning to an email stating that the assignment due date had been extended. Like really? You could've have told me that earlier
5. It's only going to be as good as you make it.
College is only as wild, crazy, and as fun as the movies portray it to be if you make it so. Your experience in college solely depends on one person; you. The truth of the matter is no longer are you going to be put into groups of 25-30 select students whom you are forced to find friends within, instead you are now one of thousands. It is because of this that you are now required to go out and be proactive; to find your friends, find amazing experiences, and find what you truly want your college experience to be about.
To sum up, college is about growth; growing as a scholar as well as growing as a person. College is much more than 10 page papers and finals, it's a time to truly discover who you are and how you want to present yourself to the world around you. So remember, while you focus on achieving academic success, don't forget that life experiences are just as important as grades.
