To Future College Freshmen,
You’re probably freaking out right this minute considering the fact that you are about to leave home and start a life in some weird place new place. You likely have no idea what to expect: Everyone is telling you that college is going to be the best time of your life, but you’re most likely wondering if that’s even true or just something everyone says so that you’ll allow your parents to ship you off for nine months each year until you’re adult enough to live on your own. However, it is true: College is what you make of it. So why not make it the best time of your life?
One of the most terrifying things about going to college is the fact that you have to share a room that is smaller than the average bedroom with another human being. Roommates are the most complicated part about college. What boundaries will you set? Will you get along? Will they turn around if you need to change? The anxiety about roommates is completely normal.
Some people room with friends from high school and others room with complete strangers. If you are rooming with someone you know, you'll want to make sure that you two are not inseparable. Allow yourself to make other friends outside of your roommate because you will benefit from that. Spending every second with your roommate will get old if you aren’t careful.
If you are rooming with a complete stranger, trust that everything will be okay. I wished my whole freshman year that I would’ve roomed with a stranger because I saw so many amazing friendships come out of that situation. Don’t worry about all the little things; work hard to not overstep any of their boundaries, and they will do the same. In the end they might just be your very best friend.
Besides your roommate, you’ll have tons of neighbors; so if you and your roommate aren’t the best of friends, you can count on your neighbors to be there for you. The people on your floor will eventually become your friends and possibly your family, so keep yourself open to making friends with the people surrounding you. It makes dorm life a lot more fun.
Next, most future freshman worry about their classes. Will they be way harder than you expected? Will you pass? How much time will you have to spend doing homework? Honestly, if you did your work in high school, you will be fine. The freshman classes are usually easy as long as you complete your assignments and understand the material that will be on the test. There are tons of tutors for every subject, for every level, for everything. Personally, I thought that college classes were much simpler than high school classes. There wasn't as much busy work and the professors don’t try and trick you regarding what you’ll be tested on.
One of the biggest things you’ll learn your freshman year is time management. At college there are always a thousand things going on. You’re going to have to learn to say no to people at times, and trust me, they’ll understand. The main reason you’re attending college is ultimately to learn, so don’t slack off. Homework usually isn’t bad, and it actually helps prepare you for the quizzes and tests. As such, it’s not a downer to do like it was in high school. Keeping on top of your studies will be worth it in the long run. Plus, it will keep you from flunking out so you will be able to come back the following year for even more fun.
What comes to mind first when people think about college? Parties. There are tons of parties in college. Whether you are into that or not, you will survive. Some freshmen worry about it because they don’t like to go out every night, and to them I say: Do not worry. I met so many people my first year of college who weren’t into partying or didn’t want to go out every single night. No one judged them for that.
On the other hand, no one judged those who chose to go out every night, either. In college you really can make your own decisions and do what you feel is best for you, without many judgments. There will be people who want to hang out with you if you want to watch Netflix or if you want to party. You will never have to worry about being alone. Don’t try hard to fit in with others, because if they’re worth being friends with, they won’t hold you back from what you need to do for you.
The biggest piece of advice that someone can give to a future freshman is to keep an open mind. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of new opportunities and new friendships because you really will remember these college times for the rest of your life. Don’t overdo yourself, but don’t slack off and flunk out either. Try to find a happy medium. Give yourself enough time to study and get all your work done, but also create time for fun and hanging out with friends. If you are wondering if you should do something or not, just do it. You will never grow as a person without trying new things, and college is the best place for personal growth.Be who you’ve always wanted to be and take on your freshman year with a positive attitude. Don’t regret anything. Don’t stress about the little things. Have the best time of your life.
