Freshman year is finally over! While we all reminisce the past year, it's easy to admit that we've learned a lot. I'm not just talking about math or biology or any of those other classes we suffered through. I'm talking about the things we didn't expect to learn. I'm talking about the things we learned about ourselves after days with no sleep, the things we learned while trying to find our way around Tallahassee, and the things we had to learn in order to take care of ourselves for the first time. Here is a list of the unexpected lessons I learned during my first year in college.
1. Junk food is expensive.
Insomnia Cookies, Starbucks, Dominos pizza, and Krispy Kreme. I look at my bank account, and a single tear falls from my face when I see how much money I spent on this garbage. Honestly, I'm a little disappointed in myself. That food made my stomach happy, but at what cost? Oh well, I'll probably never change, but at least I'm aware I have a problem.
2. Time stops in the library.
In general, time seems to go by so fast. I'll check my phone, and then all of a sudden, 2 hours have gone by. This is true everywhere except the library. I have spent what feels like 8 hours in Strozier only to find out it's been 10 minutes. And it that wasn't enough, it's the complete opposite when finals come around. What sick joke did the universe play on us?
3. Uber is a necessary resource.
You need to get to your friend's apartment? Uber. It's 2am and your friends are nowhere to be found? Uber. You're too lazy to walk home from the library after hours of stress? Uber. You just want someone to talk to? Uber.
4. Spending money on things is hard, but Venmo makes it surprisingly easy.
I have a hard time justifying swiping my debit card when I'm buying food, but when Venmo is involved, it's different for some reason. Why do I trust an app to use my money? Is it because it's just a single tap on my phone? Probably.
5. Pocket Points is the best.
Pocket Points is an app that rewards students for not being on their phone in class. You open the app, lock your phone, and earn points for how long you leave your phone alone. Points earn you discounts on things like food, online shopping, and stuff from the bookstore. The discounts I earned from this app are the sole reason I'm not bankrupt.
6. Never give up when fighting for a parking spot. Never.
I don't really need to explain this one. Parking on campus just sucks, and I'm not afraid to fight someone for a bad spot.
7. I either sleep for 10 hours or not at all, no in between.
Now that I have to take care of myself, it's my job to put myself to bed at a reasonable time. This has not been easy. I either give up on the day and go to bed at 8 pm, or I watch Netflix until the sun rises. I'm not proud of this. But, hey, nobody's perfect.
8. Doing adult things is weird.
Grocery shopping, laundry, making appointments, and making my own food. These things are so adult. Doing adult things for the first time was so strange. I felt like I was turning into my mom for a little while. It definitely took a while to get used to, but it felt good to take care of myself.
9. Vine may have died, but it's still so relevant.
Vine references will always have a place in college. If I see a "road work ahead" sign, you know what I'm going to say. If I hear someone complaining about their roommate, you know what I'm going to say. Vine references are the best way to have a good laugh amidst the stress of college.
10. 4 years will never be enough.
The first year of college went by so fast, and I can't imagine that the next three will go by slower. It sounds tacky, but I learned so much about myself the past year. I met amazing friends, I had classes that challenged me, and I learned how to take care of myself for the first time. I can't wait to see how it compares to the next few!
