I cannot believe it, but high school class of 2015, we are finally here. The end of our freshman year of college. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that it was a year to remember. In the end, no matter what happened I think we can all agree it was a year of ups and downs, but ultimately a year of growth.
Here's a recap of everything important from freshman year as told by the Cast of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt:
It all started with that first overwhelming day...
As soon as you were settled into your dorm there was no more down time. You were off at all the welcoming events that your school could pull together in the hopes that you would find your year long crew. You met so many people in that time that if you saw them on campus you probably wouldn't even recognize them today. It was a good time, but in all honesty, you look forward to coming back next year and not feeling so frantic.
You met your best friends
After the first week shenanigans of new faces coming into your life everyday, things finally started to settle out and the picture of what your friend group for the coming year would be was starting to get clearer. Now when you look back you can't believe that it's been an entire school year since you met some of the people you know will be your life long friends. It was only just yesterday you were awkwardly introducing yourselves and making small talk about majors and hometowns.
Now that you had your crew, it was time to experience the college party scene
You tried it all. Big frat ragers and laid back house parties. Eventually, you found the place you belonged to let off some steam and have a good time. And only a small part of you was disappointed to find out that frat parties weren't exactly how they were in Greek...But you can still remember that first step into a party room. It was hotter than the desert, everyone was sweaty and jungle juice was just an ambiguous term.
My have you come a long way.
You bombed a midterm or two
It was the wake up call, you unfortunately needed for your studies. You learned the important lesson that whatever you did in high school was no longer going to pass at an institution of higher learning, such as the one you attend. You needed to get a good amount of sleep, remember breakfast, and most importantly ACTUALLY STUDY.
Homesickness set in, right when you least expected it
After mac and cheese for breakfast and ice cream for dinner for a few weeks you really started to miss your dad's omelets in the mornings. You missed your bed and having a room all to yourself. When you got sad you couldn't just yell for your mom to come and make it all better, you had to be an adult and take care of yourself.
Then you went and spent all your dining money
You ate like a Queen for three weeks, coffee twice a day, pasta every night, and only the finest sandwiches. Then suddenly it's halfway through the quarter and you have about $2.34 left on your dining account and you're too ashamed to ask your parents for more money. Shout out to Cup of Noodles for helping us all out in those dark times.
Don't forget about the mega crush you had on that one guy in your English class who never even noticed you
It was pretty unlikely that he would just turn around one day, get on one knee and profess his love to you. That doesn't mean a girl can't dream, right? By the end of the quarter you had never worked up the courage to say anything, but it was for the better that way. You both were just on different paths...
If you love something, let it go.
Winter Quarter blues began to seep in right when you thought you had it all figured out
It was gross outside, cloudy and rainy. You had just started to come off the high of being a fresh college student and the reality of life and the challenges ahead were really starting to sink in.
Burned out from school work, a part-time job, clubs and social life you dealt with it the best way you could: you became a lazy recluse
Netflix was all the love you needed.
Then the sun started to come out again bringing rejuvenation to your life in the Spring
It was like life was actually being pumped back into your veins. The birds were chirping and you woke up with the sun. Suddenly you were motivated to put on actual pants instead of sweats and instead of binging on Netflix you made plans with friends, (and kept them!) Go you!
But nonetheless, you have concluded "adulting" is really hard
The sun feels great, but the sun can't wash your laundry for you.
After nine months of constantly feeling like you were on a roller coaster, the ride stopped. For now.
You made it to the end of your first academic school year in college! You should be proud of yourself. It's crazy to think that there are three (or maybe four, I don't judge) years left of all of this. So take a deep breath and enjoy your time on the ground, year two will be boarding soon for the next ride and it's only going to get crazier from here.
I wish you all the best of luck.
One year down.