I read so many similar articles to this one during my freshman year, so I thought I'd create my own! Freshman year is truly so fun and exciting with many things you'll want to accomplish. Here's some inspiration for things to add to your list.
Take a trip to Iron Horse
Iron Horse is essentially a field with, well, an iron horse. Literally, iron in the shape of a horse. But for some reason it's such a hub and an essential photo op for your social media. I'd recommend bringing a blanket and having a picnic with some of your buds. The best thing is that it's free of charge! Yay for broke college students.
Visit the World's Largest Matress
Yes, indeed, the world's largest mattress is located in close proximity to Athens, GA (about a 20 minute drive). To be candid, I never got to cross this off of my freshman year bucket list, but numerous friends suggested I check it out.
Splurge on cheesecake from Last Resort
TBH I didn't do this nor know about it until my last night of freshman year. My hall mates and I made our trip to downtown Athens solely for the purpose of purchasing a slice of this legendary cheesecake. It may be more on the pricey side, but it is SO worth it and I 10/10 recommend the white chocolate cheesecake.
Explore the plethora of coffee shops
Athens as a college town has a lot to offer, but one of my favorite aspects is the coffee. There are an amplitude of coffee shops where you'll be able to study, catch up with friends, or just enjoy a nice cup of jo.
Jump into the Herty Field fountain
They allllll say that this is an essential to do your freshman year and is yet another activity I crossed off my bucket list on my very last night of freshman year. It was truly unforgettable. I got a group together and took a trip to the fountain where there were dozens of freshman waiting for there turn to jump into the fountain to celebrate the end of the year. Seriously, do this!!!!
Ring the chapel bell
I think this one goes without saying. It is indeed true that the ringing of the chapel bell can be heard from all across campus, and it's pretty common to hear its sweet sound throughout the week. I think it's super cool that sometimes I'll be having a terrible day, but when I hear the bell I know that someone else has a reason to celebrate. This brings joy to my heart even when I'm having the worst of days. Feel free to give the bell rope a tug when you receive a good grade, have a friend visiting in town, accomplish a goal, to symbolize a new beginning, or anything you feel is celebratory.
SNELLABRATE
The greatest thing about freshman year is the meal plan. There's a total of 5 dining halls on campus to choose from. Snelling dining commons is the only one open 24 hours and you MUST take advantage of this. Whether you've got a late night studying or a fun night on the town, Snelling always has you covered. Oh, and it's kind of a rule that you refer to going as "snellabrating", it's just the correct grammar.
Get an MLC study room with your friends
MLC is the study centers of all study centers. It's filled with all different people studying all different things, which is kind of cool when you think about it. MLC has study rooms that you can fill with your study group or friends and can actually be quite enjoyable. Cramming for a test? Get a group together in the study room, order a pizza - or Eddie's calzones, if you know you know- and get to work. It's definitely a vibe.
Attend a concert at the Georgia Theatre
Something so great and resourceful about UGA is that the Georgia Theatre is in walking distance from the freshmen dorms. Definitely look up the lineup for the year and get a group of friends together to go with you. Some super well-known artists play there along with some random bands I'm personally unfamiliar with. Either way, there's variety and you'll have so much fun and maybe even discover a new taste of music you never thought you'd enjoy.
Become friends with your hall mates
I could go on and on about how much of a blessing it was to become close with the girls on my hall. They were my support system and biggest cheerleaders. However, it wasn't always this way. It wasn't until one random afternoon in late September that I barged into their room and demanded they be my friend. (Okay maybe not demand but I definitely boldly approached in their doorway and asked them to be my friend). To this day they're some of the greatest girls I know. If you don't do anything else on this list, make sure to try to befriend your hall mates, it was by far my favorite part of freshman year.
College is a challenge, especially with the rigor that UGA entails. Try and relax sometimes though and don't be afraid to take breaks and have some fun. My freshman year was something I'll never forget all because of the relationships I built and the spontaneous little adventures I embarked on. Good luck to all, xoxo.
