I have arrived at the end of my freshman year. A lot has happened, from getting an RA position, to joining the Austin College a cappella choir. I have also grown a lot as a student, a leader, a friend and a member of society. So here's some advice from a freshman that has survived her first year of college.
1. Learn your study habits.
Procrastination is the death of undergraduate students. The only way to avoid this trap of impending doom is to create a well-organized schedule and stick to it. Now I'm not saying that you should be studying all day, every day, but you should set some time aside for studying and for relaxing. This means that you need to figure out your study habits. I know that after about 30 minutes my mind tends to wander off from whatever I'm studying. To solve that I scheduled 10-minute breaks where I would go outside and simply take a nice short walk. Being hunched over a computer or a textbook for hours creates a lot of tension, both physically and mentally.
2. It's OK if you need to drop a class.
College is hard. Now I know that you have probably heard this a million times already, but surprise, it's true. It can also be hard during first semester when you bite off more than you can chew.
3. Always ask for help, with anything.
It's a stressful life being a full-time student. But there are always people out there who are willing to help you and are actually paid to do so. Such as counselors, tutors and advisors. Don't get yourself stuck between a rock and a hard place, ask for help when you need it. Whether it be with homework, studying or emotional issues.
4. Get out in the world.
Experiment! You are now an (mostly) independent adult so it's time to try new things. Join a medley of clubs, go to every event on campus, volunteer for a bit, and/or get a work study. This is the time of your life when you begin to grow as a member of society and being to learn who you are as a person. So get out there!
5. Actually talk with your professors.
One of the things that helped me survive my first semester of classes was actually talking to my professors outside of my class. Don't just be another face in the crowd, introduce yourself and ask them questions, whether it be about why they are teaching or what advice they could give you for your first year of college.
6. Join as many clubs as you can at the beginning of the year.
Part of the "college experience" is looking at and joining clubs. I highly suggest joining a lot of clubs at the beginning of your first semester and then dropping them as the school year goes on. It helps you to meet new people who love to do the same things that you love to do. And who knows, maybe it will even help you find a new hobby or a possible career path.
7. Come in with an open mind.
You are going to meet a lot of people during orientation. And I mean A LOT. And all of these new people come from different backgrounds and lifestyles, so always try and keep an open mind. Learn from their experiences. This is especially true when it comes to your roommate. You have to live with that person for a while, so you might as well try to get along and become understanding of each other's backgrounds and way of life.
8. Make the most of everything.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and honestly, this is probably one of the best experiences to have. Not a lot of people get to have this chance. So get out there and try new things, take chances, make mistakes, get messy!
