First of all, congratulations! You did it! You successfully survived going to school for 13 years. You've endured the homework, the stress, and the drama, but you've also met some great people along the way. In high school you were slowly able to find yourself. Perhaps you got to take some classes in your interest area: science? math? art? chorus? It wasn't all smiles and laughter, but I hope you can look back on your high school days and enjoy some of the memories you've made.
Because now, life is about to get real.
Don't get me wrong, college is great. I'm slowly learning how to love it, but one thing is for sure: it's hard. My first piece of advice is to mentally prepare yourself to constantly be busy. In high school you'd wake up, go to school for six or so hours, if you were like me you'd have an after school sport, and then you'd go home and do homework for an hour or so (on a good night). For the most part, you may have a lot of free time. Don't take any of it for granted. In college, I start my day at 10:00 am and am done by 4:00 pm. However, I'm not constantly in classes during that time. I'll have a class, then a break, then class again, and then another break. Much like my high school schedule some days I'll have evening sports practices but then I find myself free for the remainder of the evening. Unfortunately for me, the majority of my free evenings get filled up with club meetings, meals, or get togethers with friends.
It'll be up to you as both an independent adult and a college student to manage your time well during your breaks. Trust me, you definitely don't want to spend every class break binge watching Netflix. I can't think of a quicker way to begin the horrible cycle of procrastination. Of course that is not to say that you constantly need to study. That isn't what college is about. Sure, this is for your future and it needs to be taken seriously, but it's supposed to be fun too. Enjoy your free time because the majority of it will be spent studying for tests and doing homework.
By now you've heard it so many times you hear it in your dreams: don't wish your life away. Really, don't. No matter how eager you are to get to college or to graduate and start working, love the time that you have right now. College is all-encompassing. It involves you mentally, physically, and even spiritually on a daily basis. If that isn't exhausting, I don't know what is.
Spend time with your friends because believe it or not, many of them are going to follow a completely different life path than you are. When you get to your school for the first time you will become enveloped in school activities, events, and orientations. Your friends will be at their schools doing the same. It isn't impossible to keep up with them, but as soon as the semester kicks into full swing your biggest concern will be when you're going to finish your calculus homework or when you're going to do your psychology project. Don't worry, you'll make plenty of new friends once you get to college. But definitely hold your high school friends close now because they won't be there forever.
Here's something you never thought you'd read: enjoy your curfew. There isn't a curfew in college. YAY! Just a word of warning, this isn't as great as you may think it is. Staying out until 3:00 am the night before an exam might've seemed like a good idea at the time but it will, without a doubt, come back to haunt you.
Love your parents. Tell them you love them every chance you get. Hug them whenever you can. When you get to college they won't be there every day. They can't tell you what decisions to make, what classes to take, what friends are beneficial or detrimental to your life. Enjoy having them there for you while you can. The real world is a cold and cruel place sometimes, people. No doubt will your parents still be with you and call you daily or weekly, but they won't physically be there. College is time for you to learn to live on your own; they've spent 18 years preparing you for this. All I have to say is, make good decisions and make them proud. It's hard and a lot of work, but you can do it. You're going through college for your future career, so please do yourself a favor and take it seriously.
Keep in mind that it isn't impossible to go through college and do well at the same time. You can join that club or sorority and still have time for friends and homework. Do what makes you happy. If you aren't smiling on a daily basis you're doing something wrong. Take it from someone who got a 4.0 last semester:
"I didn't get there without stressing and struggling at times. But I did get there, and I have already made lifelong friends. I am happy and I love my school". -xoxo, me
Over all, welcome to college, welcome to your future, and may the grades be ever in your favor.
