Hey, freshmen, yeah, I’m a junior and yeah, I guess I’m kind of getting old, but I want to share a few things with you.
Dining halls are intimidating.
Especially when you walk in alone and realize no one you know is eating at that time. I remember walking into dining halls by myself and feeling extremely out of place. Everyone seemed to have their act together. The people around me were talking loudly with friends or sitting at a table full of people. As I awkwardly walked around the dining hall trying to find a spot that made it look like I wasn't alone, I realized I actually wasn’t alone. Many people were by themselves trying to create an illusion of “just studying” or sitting at a table full of other strangers looking for friends. These times yes are stressful but they are also so rewarding. Walking into a dining hall by yourself shows great strength. You’ve already done the hard work, and now it can teach you that it’s ok to do things on your own. I also want to add, though: dining halls are the perfect place to meet new friends. My favorite question is when someone asks how I met one of my friends. Half of the time the answer is a dining hall. Most of these friends were also those alone or sitting at a crowded table yet still by themselves. Cherish your time in the dining hall!
Classes are boring and sometimes scary.
Especially when you know no one in a large lecture hall or the professor is terrifying. Take this time to once again meet the people around you. For the first couple of days, move around the room and meet multiple people before choosing your spot in the class. You will need these people to rely on and for support when it comes to studying for tests or working on group projects. Also, get to know your professor no matter how terrifying. You never know when you will need their advice, a recommendation… or a grade change. Get on their good side because I assure you it will pay off.
Dorms are stressful and sometimes gross.
Especially the bathrooms after a Thursday night in Athens. I can promise you though that you will in some form or fashion miss dorm life. You will miss the convenience of having some of your best friends living right down the hall from you, and you will definitely miss the convenience of rolling out of bed ten minutes before class and still making it on time. Enjoy every movie night, game night, or just a good jam session in your small dorm rooms because you may never get a chance to live in something like this again.
Get involved.
Find activities that help you pursue and grow your passions. Find clubs that help you push and grow yourself as well. Once you’ve found the clubs you want to join, stick with them. Don’t just bounce around but stay committed and show dedication by pursuing what you love to do. Find activities that not only help with your major but also allow you to volunteer. There are so many opportunities out there, and I know from experience how rewarding volunteering can be.
Remember where you came from.
Visit your family and introduce your friends to them because freshman year is hard, and it will make you realize how much you rely on the ones you love. You might not miss them now with the excitement of being on your own and the business the first week of college brings, but you will miss your parents more than ever when you are having a bad day and can’t be comforted by them so make sure you keep them in your life. Also, if you go to church, keep going to church. Keep pursuing your faith and find others who will pursue it with you. Don’t let that go because if it was important to you growing up, then it’s time to show that it is important to you now that you are on your own.
These are just a few tips from an older but hopefully getting wiser upperclassman. Freshmen you are about to have one of the most amazing, hardest, unique years of your life! Take advantage of every opportunity that lays before you.
