You’re a senior. Everyone has gotten their acceptance letters, they’re meeting their roommates, there’s only two months of school left, and you’re stoked. I’ve been there. I was counting down the days until move in day thinking it would never get here. I followed the class hashtag on every social media site, added new friends, liked new pictures. I was so ready to pack up everything and go. I just knew I was going to make tons of new friends to make new memories with. I basically had it all planned out. But before I knew it, I was sitting in class halfway through my second semester wondering where the time had gone.
I have some advice -- don’t be like me.
I was the one who came into freshman year with it in my head that I did not want to be a partier. Being a medical studies major, I knew that I had a lot of work to do and not much time for anything else. I made friends with my roommate and the people in my suite, but that was about it. Sure I made acquaintances in my classes and on my dorm hall, but no one that I could take random road trips with and stay up all hours of the night laughing at cat videos.
When I look back now, there are a lot of things that I wish I could have done differently in that blur of my first semester. The majority of the time that I spent outside of my classes was in bed. Don’t get me wrong, there are some days that it is totally acceptable to do that, but not all of the time. I was miserable during my first semester. I was unhappy with my grades, my social life, and just myself in general. I was usually in a bad mood and I took it out on those around me (sorry Mom). But this semester, I told myself I wasn’t going to keep doing that. I’ve caught up with old friends, made new ones, and kept the ones that were there very close by my side. I’ve adventured more, spent more time in the library, and just gave myself the motivation to get out of bed. I can definitely see a change in myself too.
So a word of advice to the upcoming college freshman who is reading this, or maybe to the current college student who may be feeling the same way; just get up. If you have free time go for a hike, grab a friend and go to a baseball game, or try going to a party. If that isn't for you and you’re loaded down with homework, go find a spot in the library that you like, or go to a close by coffee shop. There are tons of things that you can do with this new freedom in college. Find something that you like to do, and make yourself happy. That's what it's all about, right? Transitioning into college is a huge and very stressful step, and eventually you have to find a way to let off steam. Do not be like first semester me and spend your time in bed all day, because I promise you’ll regret it. Get up, get active, and have fun.
