It's hard to believe that this time last year, I was at the bottom of the totem pole, a college freshman, and freshmen in college are just like freshmen in high school. Everyone feels the need to bombard you with advice, the upperclassmen see you as babies and want to take you under their wing even though they're not that much older than you. And if you're anything like me, the excitement and hype of being in college quickly wears off and you find yourself really, really, overwhelmed. I mean, like stage 5 I-want-to-go-home-I'm-not-used-to-this overwhelmed. But that's okay, and perfectly normal, believe it or not. I definitely had more than my fair share of breakdowns my freshman year, and if you haven't had any yet...well, don't worry, it's coming. The good news is that as someone's who's been there and done that, I took it upon to myself to compose a little list of some major keys to college success (loosely inspired by DJ Khaled). I call it: The Freshman 10.
Dun, dun, dun.
1. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.
In college, you have to put yourself out there or else you won't make it (especially if you go to a HBCU). Unless you have the juice like that, the opportunities won't just come to you. If you want to be a part of something, find someone who's currently or was previously involved. Go the student organization fair, see what your campus has to offer, decide what interests you and follow through with it. That leap of faith can open so many doors for you. And I know going home every weekend sounds really good -- you can get a home cooked meal, hang out with your friends back home, etc, but try not to do it so much unless you absolutely have to. Yeah, sure, campus can get pretty boring sometimes, but that's when you have to step up and create your own fun.
2. Be active on campus and get involved.
Being active helps you meet other people who may be interested in the same things as you are. However, not only is it great for socialization, it also looks really, really good on a resume. Jobs and grad schools alike want employees and students that are well-rounded individuals. So go to class and make good grades, but make sure your grades aren't the only thing you have to bring to the table. Speaking of grades...
3. Strive for all A's your freshman year.
Your first three semesters of college are basically general education courses -- that's where 12 years of free public school kick in, so it's the perfect time to build a solid GPA. Trust me, it is a lot easier to maintain a high GPA than it is to bring up a low one.
4. Network and socialize.
It's important to make sure your professors and advisers know your name because when it comes to comes to job offers, interviews, and even joining an organization, there's a pretty good chance you're going to need a bomb recommendation letter. Networking and socializing go hand and hand. Make friends outside of your circle. It's good to have a solid clique or squad that you can depend on but don't let them be the only people you know on campus -- branch out from them sometimes. It's college, you're supposed to meet new people!
5. Don't come looking for love.
Yeah, I know. We've all seen "A Different World" and all of those other college-based shows that we grew up on where two people met, hit it off right away, fell in love and ended up married. Beautiful, right? The only sad part about it is that love doesn't always happen that way in real life. So don't go to college with that mindset that you have to meet somebody, you have to have a boyfriend and you have to be married by a certain age, because 9 times out of 10, it doesn't work like that. We all want that special someone, so let that special someone come to you and believe me, it's going to take a couple tries and some heartache before Mr. or Mrs. Right appears.
6. Practice discretion.
Have you ever heard the saying "move in silence and let your success make the noise"? Well, truer words have never been spoken. Everyone doesn't need to know your every move and a lot of times, as unfortunate as it is, premature excitement can ruin things for us before they even take off the ground. So make sure it's set it stone before you go telling Facebook and Twitter about it, alright?
(And if you're interested in pledging asorority or fraternity, under NO circumstances, should anyone ever know!)
7. Get a mentor than you can trust.
Like I said earlier, when you're a freshman, everyone and their mother wants to give you advice. That's why you have to be careful of who you take your advice from. Some people will complain about their institution, how it boring it is, this and that, but are the main ones sitting on their behinds doing nothing and are really just there for the parties. Plus, at the end of the day, it's your college experience, not anyone else's, so make sure to do what you think is right for you too.
8. Have fun.
It's college, so turn up! Go to parties and kickbacks. Twerk without a care in the world. Wear what you want. Don't be afraid to try new things. You've been wanting to cut your hair for a while? Do it. You've been meaning to revamp your wardrobe? Do it. College is the place of new beginnings and for a lot of people, it gives them a chance to start over so get out there and enjoy it. Just be safe.
9. Remember that change can be good.
I know, I know. Everyone wants to prove how "real" they are, but what a lot of people don't know is that in order to be "real," one has to be willing to recognize their flaws and work on bettering themselves. We're technically all adults now so we're officially too old to be writing off certain, negative characteristics simply as being who we are. So instead of looking at it as changing, consider it self-improvement and growth.
10. YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IS IMPORTANT.
Please do not suffer in silence. If you're feeling overwhelmed, depressed, like you can't go on, etc, tell somebody. Get help. There are people on campus who care about you and can help you. You don't have to hold in anything in and deal with your problems alone. It's okay to miss a day of class if you need to. Heck, it's even okay to take a semester off if you need too. You can ALWAYS come back. So take time for yourself. De-stress. Cry, scream, and treat yourself. Do not force yourself to brink of self-destruction. Your education is important, grades are important, but so are you.
Well, in the words of Bugs Bunny, that's all, folks. Congratulations on making it to another chapter of your life. Cherish it for it'll be over faster than you think, then you'll be 40 in the midst of a mid-life crisis wondering where did the time go. I still can't believe little, ol' me is a sophomore. I mean, I remember my first day of Kindergarten. Crazy, right?
