The first semester of college is almost done and the only thing I can actually say is: I’m alive. We’re all alive. I’ll be the first to admit that college is harder than I thought it would be. I mean, I knew it would be hard, it’s college, but I underestimated it. As the semester crawls to its end, there are some things I’ve realized.
1. Your syllabus is literally your best friend.
I had read a lot of college tip articles before I started and almost every single one said that the syllabus for your classes are actually going to save your life. Like most things, I underestimated the importance of the syllabus. I’ve actually lost two of them and I hate myself for it. I’m always scared I’m about to miss an assignment or a presentation. Protect your syllabus. Protect it with your life. Some professors are super cool and put the syllabus for their class online, so you always have a way to get to it. But for those that don’t, good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor.
2. You will get homesick.
Sorry, kid. There’s no avoiding it. I’m a pretty independent person, so I thought I would be totally fine with being away from home for a few months. Nope. I miss my family and my friends like crazy. You will too. That’s 100 percent okay though, just don’t let your homesickness keep you from going out with your friends and meeting new people.
3. Home cooked meals are actually the greatest thing ever
Sure, the cafeteria food isn’t bad, but it’s no match for your mother’s cooking. I would give anything to eat my mom’s homemade chili. Cherish the home cooked meals when you go home, and if you live with your parents, appreciate them. You’ll miss them when they’re gone.
4. You might not be best friends with your roommate, and that’s okay.
Now, before anyone makes any assumptions, I love my roommate. She’s super nice and really cool. She’s also just as weird as I am, which makes me feel better. I’m lucky to have her as a roommate. Sure, we’re friends, but we’re not BEST friends, and that’s okay. It’s not necessary. We’re different people who are into different things.
5. The sickness will, unfortunately, hit you
At college, you’re exposed to so many new germs. I told myself that I wouldn’t get sick, but what do you know, two months in and I was out sick for a week. There have been some people though who have not gotten sick. Remember to wash your hands and disinfect literally everything.
6. There’s always going to be that ONE professor
You will absolutely encounter at least one professor you cannot stand. It’s bound to happen. BUT, just because you don’t like that professor, don’t slack off. That grade is important. Remember, you’re paying for that class. Don’t fail it and have to retake it. That’s just another semester with that professor.
7. But to counter that professor you don’t like, you will find one you LOVE
For me, that professor is my Presentational Literacy professor. He’s so cool! He’s basically a teenager in an adult’s body. He’s got a different way of teaching and relating to his students. When he criticizes, it’s not in a way that makes you feel bad. I am never bored in his class. He’s always got something funny to say. You will find that professor too, I promise.
8. You probably won’t stay friends with the people you met in the beginning of the semester that you thought would be your lifelong friends.
This is okay too. People come and go. Yeah, it sucks, but it’s part of life and that’s just something that, as humans, we have to deal with. Look at it this way, when someone walks out of your life, a new person will walk into it. With them, they will bring new experiences and adventures. Just remember, everything happens for a reason.
9. You will absolutely go through really hard times
Whether that be with your classes, your friends, or your significant other, it’s bound to happen. Yet again, that life. But hopefully you have amazing friends to hold your hand until the storm has passed.
10. But there will be way more good times than hard
You’re in college! You’re doing so many cool things and having new experiences with your friends, whether they’re old or new! Just remember, be safe and smart about everything you do. If you have to ask if it’s a good idea, it’s probably not.
11. You’ll learn how to better manage your time and how to prioritize
This one could take a little more time, but if you’re bad at managing your time, work on it. It will save your life. Prioritizing your schoolwork and whether or not to go out with your friends is also important. Don’t work too hard, and don’t spread yourself too thin.
12. Your friends back home won’t forget about you
I had this horrible feeling that when I graduated, my friends that are still in high school would forget about me. Mine didn’t, and yours won’t either. I know, your schedule might be busy with classes, sports or other extracurricular activities, but it takes two seconds to send a message and tell them you miss them and are thinking about them.
13. Your mental health is so important!
Don’t forget to keep you mind healthy, as well as your body, and do not let anyone undermine your feelings. They are always valid and always matter. Take breaks from school work and from your friends if you need to. If you’re struggling with a mental illness, you can seek help literally anywhere. Talk to your school’s counselor. If you don’t know them, talk to an instructor you trust and they’ll point you in the right direction. Your mental health matter so much. You do what you need to do in order to be okay.
