As the first semester wraps up, I've learned a few tricks and little pieces of advice that I'd like to share with those who may be starting their own college journey soon. Here are some tips from a freshman in college:
Take classes that you're interested in.
One of the biggest mistakes that freshmen make is dedicating their time to a schedule full of general education classes. A lot of students get bored and become uninterested when they design their academic schedules this way. While your schedule definitely should be fond of your simple gen-ed courses, it's okay to add in some courses that pertain to your major, or a few electives, so that you don't get burnt out in your first semester.
Don't take a class before 11 am.
I know what you're thinking. "I started high school classes at 8 in the morning, so why can't I in college?" Well, here's why. First of all, you never really had to stay up until 1 or 2 every night studying in high school. And if you're living on campus, you're sharing a room. So maybe your "studying" actually means having coffee with friends and sitting around a table, laughing and picking fun at each other until two in the morning (cough-cough). Either way, it makes getting up early the hardest task on Earth, which can be damaging in a class where attendance is mandatory. And this is all coming from the biggest morning person ever.
Caffeine will become your best friend.
I was one of the few who didn't develop a coffee addiction while I was in high school, and I didn't know college would change that. However, when it's 11 o'clock at night, and you have a 1,200 word essay with five required sources due in the morning, you'll only have one thing to resort to, and that's caffeine. Whether you choose energy drinks, tea, coffee, or some other type of energy booster, you'll become fond of at least one. Just trust me.
Over-involving yourself is extremely easy.
When you find yourself in a new place, with new people, and several opportunities, you may want to jump into all of them. The first couple of weeks at universities are usually full of events, and at all of those events are clubs and student organizations that all look extremely fun and appealing, and they are! Just be careful not to get ahead of yourself when deciding which events and clubs you plan on committing to. It's easy to bury yourself in the excitement and then become overwhelmed when the school year actually begins. Be careful, but have fun!
You'll miss your friends and family.
Lastly, one of the most difficult things about starting out in a new environment is not having the familiarity of your friends or family there all the time. Whether you're far from home, or attending a local university, it's hard. If you get the privilege of going to college with some of your friends, consider yourself lucky. While I've made some amazing new friends in my first year here at UCO, there are times when I just want someone more familiar by my side. Someone that I knew before the semester started. Thankfully, communication isn't completely impossible due to cellphones, and FaceTime, and other such applications. They help a lot in times of need or distress. There's nothing that a phone call to mom can't fix. And it's okay to admit that you miss your friends and family. Being away makes the time spent with them much more valuable and treasured, so enjoy it!
I hope that these little tidbits of information help some incoming college freshies out there. Now if you'll excuse me, I get to go home for three weeks to the best home cooking, and my family and friends. May everyone have the warmest and the happiest of holidays.
Sincerely,
A girl who is officially 1/8th of the way to her degree.
