Lessons I've Learned In My First Week As A College Student
Start writing a post
Student Life

Lessons I've Learned In My First Week As A College Student

10
Lessons I've Learned In My First Week As A College Student
Brooke Schapiro

1) Altitude does affect your ability to run up and down 3 flights of stairs.

Maybe it's my lack of exercise back home at 60 ft. above sea level, however the altitude is pretty brutal. Living on the third floor of a building with no elevators would normally not be a big deal, but running up and down during move in, was basically like running 5k without actually running

2) The only "fun" part of moving in is the decorating. And getting to know your new neighbors.

Moving in is not fun but creating your dorm into a Martha Stewart catalog is a great rush of adrenaline… or something like that. Getting to know your neighbors is fun and important, having neighbors who are also your friends is incredibly important and makes the integration much easier.

3) Meeting people is exhausting.

It's important to get to know people and meet your peers, yet getting to actually know others is extremely tiring. The same questions, what's your name? What's your major? Where are you from? Gets a little bit redundant, but it's all part of the process.

4) Looking at the syllabus before going to class is more scary than anything...what did I sign myself up for...?

Before going to class, professors ask that you print the syllabus, and I made the choice (mistake?) to read over it...It was scary and only fueled my anxiety. After getting into class, I realized it was less than it seemed. But still a lot.

5) My feet hurt and my immune system sucks.

The campus is HUGE. I'm not used to walking around this much and the cafeteria food kills my immune system. On the second day I woke up sick, and I hope this isn't a sign of how this year is about to go.

6) It is completely okay to be weird.

I mean, we all are weird...to our own extent, it just happens to be some more than others. It's better to be weird and have a little laugh instead of just being boring.

7) Showering in communal showers is something out of a poorly-written horror movie.

My very first communal shower experience was at 3 am. I was the only one in the bathroom, and I was huddled away in the closed off, narrow shower. I knew that no one was in there, but I couldn't help but feel like there was someone or something in that bathroom that was going to get me as I blindly exited the shower. I was prepared for a impromptu self-defense karate-type-thing. Of course, I ended up being okay. But I think that fear will always be in the back of my mind.

8) A constant battle: Being hungry but not wanting to walk all the way to the cafeteria to get food.

Pretty Self explanatory. With the nearest cafeteria a brutal half-mile, away...it's a constant battle between my stomach and my poor, tired, legs.

9) Target saves lives.

Dorm snacks, school supplies, unnecessary items that you somehow justify needing, anything really. It does save lives.

10) Command strips sometimes fail...and it is terrifying seeing your hard work in decorating your dorm, shamble to nothing.

Though they are promising, Command strips don't always work as well as intended. And when they fail, it hurts more than you would think. It's like your whole aesthetic depends on Command strips.

11) It's a normal thing to just talk to random people as you pass by them.

How else would you meet people? A simple "Hey" can go a long way, and you might even make a new friend.

It has only been a week, and I can name a plethora of other things I've learned in the short amount of time I've been a first-year College student.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

85828
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

51725
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments