If only there was a magical bible we were given to navigate through our freshman year of college. Although it sadly doesn't exist, I've tried my hand at a list of commandments I think every first-year college student should live by. Take a peek for yourself:
1. Thou Shalt Get Involved
Getting involved first semester is a great way to fend off homesickness! Whether it be through Greek life, an intramural sport, or writing for your school newspaper, your college is bound to have an organization that will interest you. Plus, you'll meet people with common interests, which is a great way to make fast friends!
2. Thou Shalt Get Outside Thy Comfort Zone
College is a great time to challenge and grow yourself as an individual. So apply for that cool internship, try new food, a new club, go to a fun event or even just say hey to the person next to you in class! You'll never know what kind of adventures await you if you're holed up in your dorm room all day, so make sure to take advantage of all the opportunities available to you.
3. Thou Shalt Understand That Good Things Take Time
When you first get to college, it's easy to feel like you'll never adjust. Just understand that college is a huge transition period, and it takes time to find good friends, know your way around campus, and just find your niche in general. I promise if you give it a little time, everything will work out in the end.
4. Thou Shalt Have Me Time
College can get pretty hectic, and unless you have a single dorm room, you're going to be surrounded by people pretty much 24/7; making it easier to lose who you are. It's important to carve out some time for yourself during the week to decompress and self-reflect. Whether that's working out, sitting on the lawn with a good book, eating in the cafeteria by yourself, or even just listening to music while you're walking to class - me time is a great (and necessary) thing!
5. Thou Shalt Study
This is an important one. In high school you may have slid through your classes with minimal effort; but in college, the amount of effort you put into your work really reflects the outcome of your grade. Make sure you carve out some time to study, do your class readings, and form a relationship with your TA's and professors. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and at the very least - go to class!
6. Thou Shalt Understand It's Okay To Change Thy Major
Like I said, college is such a transition period and you learn so much about yourself during just first semester alone. It's completely normal to come in with your mind dead set on one major only to end up changing to an entirely different one (sometimes multiple times!) The important thing is to take classes that interest you and find out what excites you, what you're passionate about. Remember: you don't have to figure out exactly what you want to do with your life this very moment!
7. Thou Shalt Only Have Relationships That Are Worth While
In high school you might have felt like you had to be friends with people because of cliques, or because it was all you had ever known. But in college, there are thousands of friends to pick from! So make sure to choose your relationships, both romantic and friendly, wisely. Surround yourself only with people who build you up and make you feel like the best version of yourself, and make sure to stay in touch with people back home who also do the same!
8. Thou Shalt Understand That It's Okay To Feel Lost
You can learn so much about yourself in such a short amount of time; especially during freshman year. You are suddenly thrown into a vast sea of people, away from the comfort of your friends, family, and home, so it's easy to feel lost in the crowd. But everyone is in the same boat and those who seem like they have it all together most likely just have a great poker face. So be kind to yourself and understand that you will change and grow. College is filled with many ups and downs, mistakes will happen and lessons will be learned - and that's the beauty of it!
9. Thou Shalt Be A Little Selfish
College is one of the few times in your life where it's okay to be a little selfish. You're figuring out what YOU want to do with the rest of your life, who YOU want to spend your time with, and what makes YOU happy. Take full advantage of learning about yourself and only pursue things that make you happy; life is too short to do anything but.
10. Thou Shalt Have Fun
It's only four years after all! Make the most of it, and don't take life too seriously. Work hard, study hard, but make tons of memories (and take lots of pictures!) because you're going to want to look back on these four years with fondness (and lots of laughs!)
