You go to college to learn and further your education. And as the weeks pass by and we draw closer and closer to the end of the semester all I can think about is how much I’ve learned. While I’ve learned plenty in the classrooms I sit in for hours each week, some of the most useful stuff I’ve learned outside of class. Here's a few things I’ve learned from my first semester away at college.
The laundry room sucks.
At home doing laundry was so easy. You just threw your stuff in the machine with the detergent that was already there, and then a little while later you came back and tossed it in the dryer for however long, and that was that. But now you have to go down 10 floors to the laundry room with your huge bin of dirty clothes and the $8 detergent you had to buy and then you have to pay $1.50 to wash the clothes, then you play the waiting game until the cycle is over and then you have to pay another $1.50 to dry the clothes and wait another 45 minutes only to come back and the clothes are still sopping wet so you pay another $1.50 to dry them for the second time and wait another 45 minutes until they’re done being dried. At home laundry was a simple task, but now you need half a day to just get a load done not to mention the like 10 bucks it sucks up too.
You don’t need to buy every textbook for every class.
Textbooks are expensive as heck and are a pain to carry around. Honestly, I used two of the five textbooks I bought this semester. Each of my teachers said it was "required" and then never mentioned the $85 book again. So, next semester I’m making sure to ask around and see if we really need the hefty book.
Alone time is very important.
Being surrounded by a lot of people for good portions of your day is exhausting. They say college is where you truly find yourself and figure out who you are, and this semester I’ve learned that some nice quiet time by yourself can really help you with that. Being able to reflect on what's going on in your life is so important. Whether it's a 20-minute walk around campus, an hour and a half in a coffee shop, or just sitting alone in your dorm, it is an essential part of college.
Emails can get really overwhelming.
In high school I never checked my email; now if I go two days without checking it I get anxious about all I might have missed. Staying on top of your email is really important to your own sanity.
Say yes to as many plans as you can.
They say the friends you make in college will last you a lifetime. So when someone asks you to hang out, say yes! Whether it's a few people studying, running errands with a girlfriend, or a huge party you really should make the effort to go. You will regret saying no the second someone updates their Snapchat story or Instagrams a group picture.
Time management is crucial.
I have always been a procrastinator, and probably always will be. But, college has woken me up and hit me in the face, and waiting until last minute just doesn’t fly anymore. I tried it for a while, but it just got so overwhelming and completely unbearable. When your professor assigns some project that is due a month from now, look at the requirements and break it up into sections and try and get some done every week. At least have the due date and instructions on your radar so you don’t completely forget about it. Trying to balance five different classes and all their assignments is tough, but completely doable if you manage your time well.
FaceTime can make you feel 90 percent better when you’re homesick.
I’m personally like 900 miles from home, and don’t get me wrong: I love it here and have no regrets, but I do get a wave of homesickness every once in a while (which, by the way, is totally normal). So when you get that little naggy feeling, get on FaceTime or Skype or OoVoo and video chat a familiar face. It will brighten your day and make you feel at ease. You don’t realize how much seeing someone’s face can change your entire day.
College is a total blessing.
This semester has taught me so much, but mostly it showed me how lucky I am to be here. I am here, furthering my education, learning about things I’m interested in, meeting super rad people, and following my dreams. Not everyone gets this amazing opportunity, and I can’t believe how incredibly lucky we are.
