As you go into freshman year of college you think this is it. Your glory years and your time of ultimate freedom from parents. Everyone has different experiences in college, whether they are good, bad, or ugly. The endless worries, countless exams, and the overwhelming social issues all seem to get the best of you at times, but in the end we all know that lessons are learned and you have become more yourself through it all.
The first, most important thing learned after my completion of freshman year is to be yourself. After two whole semesters of seeing kids act crazy and embarrassing themselves, I know that it is safe to say just simply don't try to be somebody that you are not. The famous saying, “first impressions are everything,” really does matter, but only in the context that you are being the person you truly are. Many think that because they are in new chapter in their life, they are also able to test out a whole new ego. I really do advise you to not test it out. It is quite noticeable and makes you look like a fool. By being who I really am, I found some of the truest and genuine friends and have not had to worry about impressing.
The second lesson I have learned after my first year is to ignore the junk. By junk, I simply mean the drama and high school shenanigans. I truthfully was never the kind of girl that saw drinking, and partying to be a great past time. I firmly believe that college can be enjoyed without that experience (as some would object to). I went into college thinking that it would be so much different than high school, but I soon realized that some people were just the same, as well as their actions. Academically though, college is a whole new world. Throwing the junk out of your life only creates a better four years for yourself.
The third lesson I learned was that professors weren’t kidding when they said the only way to pass an exam is to study. There is no winging it in college. Devoting most of my time to studying really did get old at moments, but in the end it was worth every second. Grab a large cup of coffee and study up. I personally set my own goals for each semester, and if studying was not incorporated those goals would not have been met. The Dean’s list and a 3.9 GPA are something to be proud of, and the steps taken to get to that point were a rewarding challenge.
Lastly, coming from the sincerer side, I learned that finding that one best friend is worth it all. I was very fortunate and blessed to have found my college best friend in the past year. From countless papers needing to be revised and times where crying seemed to be the only stress reliever, she was there. Venting after each exam and wondering why we couldn’t have circled the right answer the first time always seemed to spark a conversation. Even those looks after an exam was passed out, where we both could just tell the next hour was going to be a drag, will not be forgotten. Oh, and how could the Dunkin' Donuts coffee runs be forgotten? I know that we both will be ready to tackle the remaining three years together as each other’s motivators.
I could not be more thankful for the college that I have chosen, and the experiences I had my freshman year. Lessons were learned and have helped mold me into a better person. I am now prepared for whatever there may be to come in the upcoming years of my college career.
