Freshman Year. Undoubtedly the craziest, scariest, most rewarding, and significant year of a person’s life. This is the year that you’ve been waiting for. You’ll leave home for the very first time, learn to live on your own, and basically figure out what this whole life thing is all about.
As my freshman year of college is coming close to an end, I look back now at all the memories I’ve made and realize it was the best year of my life! However. There are definitely some things that would have helped me a lot to know at the very beginning. Here are 11 things every college freshman should know.
1. Moving In
Surprise, surprise… Move-In Day is going to be a hectic day. People from all around the world and all different places are going to be moving in just like you. Help yourself out and prepare ahead of time by organizing all of your things so you know where everything is. And it’s okay if you don’t have the time to unpack your whole room the very first day. You have all year for that.
2. Roommates.
The Sticky roommate situation is a real thing. Unless you’re rooming with someone you already know, your roommate can either become your absolute BFF or your worst enemy. Whether it’s stealing your food, talking on the phone with their Mom all day long, snoring, or hogging the couch every night with their significant other, living with other people is going to be annoying AF no matter what. So just remember to not cause drama, you don’t have to live with these people forever… and play nice.
3. Give Everyone a Chance.
You will be meeting a TON of new people your freshman year. But not only that. You’ll meet your best friends, classmates, acquaintances… also. Future bridesmaids? Business Partners? Boyfriends? (Your future HUSBAND??!) Case in point: make sure to give everyone a chance. The most random people you meet could very likely become your most favorite people.
4. Give Everyone a Chance...But...
It’s true, you will meet some of your bestest friends for life your freshman year. BUT… You might find out at the end of the year that the people you THOUGHT were your best friends actually turned out to be…quite the opposite. People sucked before college and news flash, they still do. But. The good thing about being in college is that you’re not tied down to anything, or anyone. So if such happens… walk away and move on.
5. Bein' Broke.
There is a very good chance that during your Freshman year you will realize that you, as a college student, are suddenly very poor. Most likely you'll be living off of your parents money. There are exceptions to this rule of course, by those who either a) have a job, b) saved up on their own, or c) have a scholarship. If you are any of these...I sincerely applaud you. Because most aren't as strong. Either way, it's best to learn how to be resourceful and save your pennies. Some examples of such could be donating plasma, selling old clothes, hoarding food from your school's cafeteria, starting a Gofundme on Facebook, starting your own pancake business outside class... You know. Do what you gotta do.
6. The Freshman 15.
Unfortunately, living away from home can come with certain…temptations. These temptations might possibly include binge-eating PizzaRolls and/or donuts while binge-watching How to Get Away with Murder. We’ve all done it, it’s okay. But whatever you do…DON’T DO THE FRESHMAN 15, I REPEAT: DON’T DO IT. Because yes, it is a choice. Go to your school gym, walk to class, drink smoothies, and sleep like an angel Mon-Fri. Doing this will keep you healthy and happy, and help you focus on your homework during the week. That way you can put in work on Ben&Jerry’s and study up on Grey’s Anatomy during the weekend.
7. Be Wise about your Time.
The greatest and hardest thing about college is managing your time. For the first time ever, your daily schedule isn’t tied down to a T. Classes are great because you’ll likely have two or three a day instead of 6 or 7 back-to-back. However, your course-load will be 10x more. So choose the days you want to go out and party, and save enough time to catch up on homework and sleep when you don’t. Also, do your self a favor and don't take a 7:45 a.m. class. Okay? Okay good.
8. Naps.
Naps…Omg...Yep, definitely just got goosebumps…Naps will save your poor tired soul your freshman year. You might not know this now, but come school, you will literally be tired all the time. Tired af? Solution: take a nap. Stressed af? Nap. Annoyed of people? Nap. Tons of homework? Nap. Missing your mom's food? Nap. Tired of adulting? That's right, nap. Life is going to suddenly become so much better when you realize that napping is always the answer. So protect your Nap-Schedule like your life depends on it…because it does.
9. Clean a Little.
As an official Freshman, you have the right to live up to the college student role of bein’ a general mess. But, every once in a while… clean up. If you find yourself stressed or scatter-brained, there’s a good chance your space is scattered as well. So clean your room, do your laundry on Sundays, wash your sheets, and make your mama proud.
10. Go Explore.
Wherever your college/university-town is, go explore it! Take your friends and find as many fun things to do as you possibly can. Go on hikes, go swimming in the river, play at the park, pick flowers, frolic in a field, etc., etc. Live out your little adventurist side while you still have the time to. AKA before you have to Adult for real.
11. Capture the Moments.
Yes, so cliché…a picture’s worth a thousand words…yeah yeah…But in this case it’s true. And coming from a girl who hates taking pictures, that’s saying a lot. At the end of the day, memories are so precious yet so easy to forget. So take as many as you can. Post them online. Save them to your computer. Print them out. Put them in a scrapbook. Whatever you do, keep all of them. And when you feel like it, look back at those pictures and see how much you’ve grown, learned, and changed during your Freshman year. You won’t regret it.
