Commonly we hear people use the phrase “the freshmen fifteen”. While it refers to weight gain our first year of college, I think we also gain a weight of life experiences that shape who we are. The transition from high school to college has taught me so much about myself, those around me, and how much rate my professor has saved my life. Let me share with you the first “five pounds” of my freshmen fifteen.
#1. Finding yourself
To me this has been most important. Once I was separated from my friends and family I realized a lot about who I was and how much of myself was reliant upon them. I could completely start over, be anyone I wanted to. I didn’t really know who I wanted to be but I knew I would figure it out as I went along. Good news, I found myself. My advice: be someone who not only makes those around you happy, but be someone who can love themselves and accept the beautiful and “less beautiful” things about yourself.
#2. Being around people that make you happy
I didn’t know anyone going into college but surprisingly my roommate became my best friend (not like a fake best friend that you tolerate because you don’t have anyone else, but actually my best friend). We have met so many people and uploaded way too many annoying snapchats to our stories. We convinced each other to skip homework (and sleep) to add to our collection of adventures because at the end of the day obviously the stories we will tell our kids are more important than our GPA.
#3. What people think of you never mattered anyways
Yes, I curled my hair every day for the first couple months of school. Now don’t get me wrong there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look good, girl you do you. But recently I discovered that not taming the mane reflects who I am more than getting up at the crack of dawn to get ready. I surprised myself by becoming more confident with less of what I looked like and more of how my personality can radiate through the material things. People have become so concerned with what other people think of them and this breaks my heart. Do what makes YOU happy. If you wear ripped jeans, then rock them. If you wear your heart on your sleeve, then show the world how great you are.
#4. Family
I cannot even put into words how much I am thankful for my parents and my siblings. I was so excited to move away from home and be independent. I told myself I would never miss being at home. Oh my gosh I was completely wrong. I miss coming home to my mom casually telling her about my day and I miss home cooked meals (boy do I miss free food). I can’t even imagine what it’s like for my mom and dad sending off their child. So here’s the thing, call your mom. Call your dad. Call your sister or brother. Even if you have nothing important to say. Family is everything, keep that relationship strong.
#5. Boys
We all knew it was coming. What kind of girl doesn’t relate boys to everything? Let me tell you a strategy that I use (now keep in mind this isn’t for everyone). Because I am so intrigued by people and how we all think and live so differently, I love learning about new people. Whenever I go on a date with a new person I keep myself off the subject. I constantly ask questions about them and let me tell you, once you get someone started on their life story they really open up. I have a trustworthy personality and so people usually don’t hold back. I keep them talking about themselves throughout the whole date. If they don’t realize by the next date (that is if they ask me out again) that they know nothing about me, then I don’t go out with them again. This strategy works for me number one because I get to know them before I open myself up to them and number two because I want to be with someone who wants to know me on a deeper level. Don’t open yourself up to every guy because not all of them are out to be the best versions of themselves. But remember that there are good ones out there and you will find the right one.
I am only a freshman in college and I still have so much more to learn. I'm still transitioning into more of who I am every day. But aren't we all? These are only a few of the things I've learned throughout my first year, but I look back on who I used to be and I am eternally happy with who I've become in just one year. We all have so many opportunities to better ourselves and those around us. If you're not happy, find a way to be happy. Find something that makes you happy. We never know if we have tomorrow.
"Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are. It solely relies upon what you think." -Buddha
