They don't lie when they say the first year of college will change you. I'm not exactly sure who "they" are but I never believed them. I'm in my second year of college now and in high school I was never sure what to expect in the year following graduation. I saw movies like "Greek" and "Pitch Perfect" that depicted the whole college scenario as being outrageous and a whole new experience. And it was. But every first year of college is different and everyone takes away different lessons. Here are a few lessons I learned during Freshman year.
First, no one really cares about anybody else. This isn't a bad thing. It's like every man for himself. No one cares where you came from, who you've slept with, what you wear, who you dated, etc. Unless you're coming to college with a boat-load of people you went to high school with, it's pretty much a new slate. A clean start.
Second, you will make friends in college. There's literally someone for everyone. I've never met such a variety of people with such a wide range of interests.
Third, losing friends is okay. I've lost touch with a lot of friends since coming to college. I wish I stayed in contact with all of them but sometimes that's not the case. If you notice a friendship fading, it's not the end of the world. You'll always have Facebook and Snapchat to see what they're up to.
Fourth, don't be shy. This is easier said than done. I was definitely shy when first coming into college, especially during Freshman week. I'm not sure how different colleges do this but usually the school has fun games and activities for freshman to participate in the first few days of school. Go to these events. They're fun. Everyone is just as anxious to make friends as you are.
Fifth, be nice to your roommates. You always hear the phrase "you don't have to be best friends with them..." but it's true. You don't. I've heard a lot of horror stories about roommates and they might pair you with someone you just don't click with. Just remember, it's only for 9 months. And if you really can't stand them, you can always move out. You're not trapped. It's not a prison.
Sixth, go to class. This was mainly a problem for me my second semester. It came to a point where I just wasn't motivated because I had the freedom to decide whether or not I could go to class. Sometimes taking a personal day is nice, but don't make a habit of it.
Seventh, talk to your academic advisor/s. They are there to help you. The more you communicate with them the more you make yourself known which means the more they will know your academic and career goals. Also, it's nice to talk to them about how you have no idea what you're doing. They usually help the majority of my stress.
Eighth, call your parents. I didn't start getting homesick until about October. Yeah I went home one or two weekends before then but October is when I really started missing my mom's cooking and smelling my dad's coffee in the morning. There were a lot of times when I missed old routines and homecoming and prom. It was actually really weird looking at all the photos and realizing prom is no longer a thing.
And finally, don't stress too much your first year. It's a big change. Pick classes you like, my suggestion is 4-5 classes max. Talk to your professors, they're not scary (most of them). Don't be afraid to roll with the punches because often times, nothing will turn out as you had planned.
