Three years ago I was sitting in your shoes, ready to take on the “best four years of my life," but equally as nervous for what was about to come. On my first day moving into what would be my new home, I was unaware that my life would soon be changed forever. With only a few old friends by my side and my family five hours away, I was getting ready to embark on a journey that would test my strength, independence, and most importantly, adaptability. So to the incoming freshman, you will be told endless amounts of little tips and tricks to surviving college, but I am going to give you just four pieces of advice you really need to make the next four years (or more) the best ones of your life.
Be patient. The first week you get to college, you will probably be overwhelmed with all the perks of being on your own for the first time. You will meet immediate friends in your dorm and classes, and after going out a few nights, you will not understand how you ever survived before this. Then, it hits you. You realize that while you may have a lot of distant friends, you do not have one truly great friend yet. Your classes are suddenly becoming harder than you imagined. You all of the sudden feel lost in a place that you had just fallen in love with. Be patient.
College is an adjustment and it is not always going to be easy, especially in the beginning. It might be comfortable for you to get in your car after a tough week and head home to where you are familiar, but do your best to fight that urge, because I promise it will get better with time.
Take every opportunity that comes your way. Mark Twain was not lying when he said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do." Blending into the background is an easy way to ensure that your college experience will not be everything you want it to be.
Do not be afraid to take on a big position in an organization as a freshman or get involved in a group that you don't think you will fit into, because you may surprise yourself. Apply for the position that you want, even if you are certain that you would never get it. Look into different study abroad options. The opportunities are endless in college, and you will thank yourself later for taking them even if they do not work out.
Step out of your comfort zone. This one is definitely easier said than done. I realize that coming to a foreign place where you do not know anyone is already difficult, and trying to push your limits on top of that can be extremely terrifying, but life begins at the end of your comfort zone. Go up and introduce yourself to a stranger in your class, visit your professor's office hours, and go to that big party with your new friends even if you do not know anyone else who will be there. These are the moments where you grow as a person, and looking back, these will be some of the best.
Organize, organize, organize. I know you think some of your high school classes are tough. After an entire day of school, you have to go home and do a couple hours of homework to prepare for the next day. Unfortunately, I have some bad news for you. What you are about to experience makes high school look like kindergarten. In some classes you will have just three grades, which include three tests, and messing up one of them could cost you. Organization is the key to managing your schoolwork. Do not ignore your syllabus and write down all of your assignments and tests ahead of time. Prepare a schedule for when you will accomplish whatever tasks you have. It may seem like a pain at first, but come finals week, you will be thanking yourself for it.
While college can seem a bit overwhelming at times, especially when you are new to it, just remember that it does get better. Coming from someone who has done it, I can honestly say that I did encounter some rough patches along the way, but I would do anything to be in your shoes again. College has given me endless opportunities, amazing friendships, and a lot of new qualities I never had before. The next four years to come will be one wild ride that is sure to change your life. Hop on!
