We've all heard our friends and family tell us that college will teach you lessons that you never even knew you needed to learn, and we've all dismissed this idea because we thought we knew everything. However my first week in college taught me that we're all just small fish in a big pond, and there are still so many things to learn. After my first week on my own, here are some of the things that I've learned so far:
Your roommates will fight. But that's part of living with new people. There was a time when everyone was at each other's throats over little things like who left the dishes in the sink, but now we're all a close little family. Trust me, it will get better.Never leave any of your belongings anywhere unattended. This speaks for itself. R.I.P. to the yeti tumbler I lost...you will be missed.
No one is judging you. They really don't care that you haven't brushed your hair or you look like a trash can, because they're only trying to make it through the day, just like you.
College is so much different than highschool. From the people, to the campus, to the classes. It's all a new world. I got lost the first day and it was terrifying, but I'm slowly starting to learn my way around. The people are different too; everyone has made me feel so welcome, which is a huge difference from a small town high school.
You're independent now. No one is telling you what to do, it's up to you to make things happen. This is both a blessing and a curse.
Make a friend in every class. You'll be glad you did when you need help on your homework because it looks like a foreign language, or you just need a friend to talk to. It never hurts to meet to new people.
Get involved. It may seem dumb to go to random Week of Welcome events, but you'll actually have fun and meet new people. Or you'll leave early and go home and cook a huge pizza with your roommate (I definitely did this.) Either way, you'll have fun.
Just breathe. My third day of classes I was seriously ready to quit. A few tears and deep breaths later though, I was ready to take on the college world. You will have a mental breakdown at some point, but that's okay and you'll make it through.
