High school graduates: we went from being the big fish in a small pond to Minos in an ocean. We went from striding across a stage to claim our diplomas to wandering through a dorm carrying laundry. As we walk down the sidewalks of our new home, the college campus, we embrace the fact that we are once again Freshmen, but this time it is a completely different path that we have to learn how to navigate.
We must learn how to thrive without mom and dad frequently glancing over our shoulders. It’s hard to go from one thing to something completely different, from being treated as kids to being expected to act like adults, but how do we make this change by ourselves? The answer is we don’t. It turns out that you’re not the only one trying to find time to study for that Chem test or trying to find time to sleep since your professors have buried you under a mountain of homework. Use your peers. Use the people who surround you especially the upper class-men who have already survived their freshman year. They can offer you priceless advice on how to survive and thrive. If you’re living on campus, ask your RA. Even though they might seem intimidating, they’re there to help you like so many others.
As a freshman myself, I’m beginning to fully understand how different college courses are from the classes that I took in high school. Not having class every day is a blessing, but it’s also a curse. Classes are longer, chock-full of information, and go at a faster pace than high school classes, so it’s difficult to adjust. If you begin to fall behind and need help, don’t be afraid or ashamed to ask for it. Life will be easier if you do. If you talk to your professors and show them that you care, they’ll work with you. They don’t want you to fail their class, and you don’t want that either.
Also, since you are no longer living with your parents you have control of the life style you live. Try to get a decent amount of sleep and to eat food that slightly resembles an actual meal. The Freshman 15, or as some people at my college like to call it the Freshman 45, is no joke. Just because it’s an all you can eat buffet doesn’t mean you should eat everything in sight. Your health and your diet are your responsibility. If you eat decent foods and get enough sleep, you’ll be less likely to get sick meaning less likely to miss class. One class can sometimes mean the difference between an A and a B.
Learning to juggle all the aspects in your “new” life can be challenging. Not getting enough of something, like sleep, can cause stress, so being organized can be a real life saver at times. If you write out everything you have to complete, you are more likely to do it, at least that’s what one of my professors keeps telling me. The list at first might seem daunting, but as you complete your assignments cross, them off and you’ll feel gratification. Also, if you manage your time, you’ll know when you should and shouldn’t spend the night out with your friends.
Since we are now seen as “adults” in the eyes of the world, our actions are monitored more closely, so be careful if you decide to go out and party with your friends. You don’t want one mistake to jeopardize your career at the university in which you worked so hard to attend.
Freshman year can be scary at times when you look at all the responsibilities that are thrown at you, but if you break it down and incorporate all the experiences you go through, it doesn’t seem as bad. You’ll make new friends and gain new skills; you’ll also discover yourself as a person. Being away at school offers you a safe environment to explore your newly found independence. College may be different from what we’re used to, but it it’s a change that’ll impact our lives forever.
