Alright, all of you soon-to-be freshmen, this is for you. College is going to be hard. It's going to be weird and crazy and super stressful sometimes, but here are some tips to help you get by. And remember, college is supposed to be the best years of your life.
1. It's OK to mess up.
It's OK to make mistakes. It's OK to have regrets. It's OK to wish that things could be different. What's not OK is letting your mistakes control you and dictate your future.
2. Sometimes, friendships stop being healthy.
Never be afraid to distance yourself from people who make you feel like you need to prove yourself. True friends love you no matter what.
3. Wear what you want to wear.
If you want to wear mismatched socks or a Marvel t-shirt, do it. Don't let anyone make you feel ashamed of wearing what makes you you. Rock those overalls. Be proud of those hipster glasses. Follow your school's dress code, obviously, if it has one, but make it your own.
4. Never go to sleep angry.
You'll just wake up even angrier. Problems don't just go away. If you have a fight with your roommate, work it out. Sit down and figure out what needs to happen to keep a calm environment.
5. It's OK to cry.
It's OK to sit on the bathroom floor with mascara streaks all over your face and wish things were different. It's OK to be sad sometimes and it's OK to leave your mom or dad ten voicemails at two in the morning.
6. You won't always get along with your roommates.
Sometimes they'll turn into your best friends, and sometimes they'll drive you crazy (and not in a good way.) But, most of the time, you'll be grateful for all of the things they taught you. Your roommate will probably be the one giving you a pep talk before your hardest exam and helping you pick out what to wear for your first date.
7. It's OK to order pizza twice a month.
Or more. When in doubt, call Domino's.
8. Flashcards will be your best friend.
I know they're tedious and lots of people think they're lame, but they really saved me through my first year of college. It's a great way to remember things and they're easy enough to carry around. My personal belief is that you can never have enough flashcards.
9. People aren't always nice.
And yeah, the world is a cruel place. But that doesn't mean you have to be cruel, too. Smile at strangers. If you like someone's shirt or scarf or face, tell them! Like people's Facebook statuses or Instagram posts. It takes half a second and it makes people happy.
10. Don't be afraid of being yourself.
It's OK that you hate chocolate or love hikes or whatever. You don't have to prove to anyone that you're worth something, because you are. You are beautiful and amazing and you should never have to hide anything about yourself because people might look at you funny. Anyone who doesn't accept you just the way you are isn't worth having in your life.
11. Procrastination is really easy to get into and really hard to make up for.
Trust me, it's not worth it. Getting stuff done early gets it out of the way and leaves a lot more time for socializing and just relaxing.
12. It's OK not to get along with people.
There are tons of different types of people at college and you aren't going to like every single one of them. I guarantee there will be people you will clash with from the second you meet them. This is not an excuse to be rude to them or to go out of your way to let them know you don't like them. Just be civil and remember the golden rule.
13. Don't waste time.
If you think the kid in your English class is cute, ask him or her out. If you want to take an art class, take it. College isn't just about academics. It's about the experience and growing up and finding your place. If you want to be friends with someone, say hi. If you want to try the new Chinese restaurant downtown, do it. Take a chance and do something new. We don't always have as long as we think we do.
14. You don't always have to explain why you're saying no.
It's OK to just say no. You don't have to justify your reasoning or make someone else understand. The only person that matters is you.
15. You don't have to go to every activity that your school puts on.
But I can guarantee you that if you don't go to any of them, you'll regret missing out on those memories. It's OK to skip some, but go to a football game every once in a while. Watch the girl in your philosophy class play volleyball or go to a choir concert to support your roommate. You never know. It may give you some of the best memories of your life.
16. Sometimes, things won't work out the way you want them to.
It's OK to feel like everything is one confusing mess. It's OK to feel a little lost sometimes. Sometimes, you'll fall in love and it'll fall apart. Sometimes, you'll lose friendships you thought would last forever. Sometimes, you'll feel like the world is spinning and you're stuck standing still. And that's OK. It doesn't last forever. You just have to pick yourself up and realize that you meet a lot of temporary people in college. But you also meet a lot of forever ones.
17. It's OK to be undeclared when it comes to majors and minors.
I started out college with what I thought was a set-in-stone Biology major and Chemistry minor. Now I'm a Psychology and English major with a minor in Creative Writing and possibly Theatre or Art. You never know. You have to take classes and experience it. The great thing about college is that it gives you the opportunities to see classes as jobs and fields. The bad thing about this is that you realize sometimes your expectations don't exactly match up with reality.
18. Most importantly, have fun.
College is the best years of your life. You just have to go out and live it. Make friends. Go on dates. Join clubs. Be yourself. Have the time of your life and take tons of pictures.
