Nothing can truly prepare you for what you’re about to experience. I’m sure you hear all types of stories about different people’s freshman year experience, but yours will not be like theirs. You probably just finished opening up the cards from your open house, or think you’re done making a list of things you “need” for your first year- but you have no idea what change is coming your way.
You’re going to be away from home, your own person who makes their own decisions. You don’t have mom and dad to tell you to do your homework before you play video games, you no longer have a curfew, and you aren’t going to have those home cooked meals anymore. You’ve got to be so excited about all these changes. You finally get to do your homework whenever you want, except you’ll get lazy and addicted to napping and Netflix. It’s going to happen. You’ll choose going out with your friends over that 12 a.m. paper that is due. You’ll forget that you have that 8:30 class when you’re out turning up on a Tuesday. You’re going to burn the burger on the stove and realize you under cooked the potatoes just as you finished putting the ingredients in. All these things and more are just going to happen, so just go with the flow.
You’re going to fight with your roommate, there is no avoiding it. Whether or not you were best friends in high school or you got placed with a random person you know nothing about, it’s going to happen. You’re going to argue about how much noise their making when you’re napping, or how they never do their dishes, or how they take too long of showers. They’ll get mad at you for things you didn’t even realize you were doing.
You’re going to be sharing a room! Most of us haven’t ever shared a room besides maybe at a summer camp or when you went on vacations with your family. Whether or not you have a good relationship with your family, or if you’re just so excited to be on your own, you’re going to miss them- so make time for them! Call them when you think you’re having a bad day, tell them how you feel. They’ve most likely been through something like this. You’re probably so excited for all these changes coming your way, but you need to keep an open mind.
“I was beyond excited before move- in day! I was counting down the days to move in. I was in a group chat with my 5 other roommates, so we all got to know each other before we moved in and it just made move in day that much more exciting!” –Melanie Leduc, Saginaw Valley State University majoring in Journalism
“Moving in, and living on your own is super exciting. Learning how to pay bills, and juggle school a job and sometimes it seems like a million others thing all at once really helps you mature.” –Ethan Montei, Delta College majoring in Utility Technician
During my freshman year I lived with 7 different girls. Each of us came from different parts of the state; most of them from larger populated areas. I, on the other hand, came from a very small town, population of about 3,000. I grew up across from a farm in a town where everyone knew everyone’s business. I was able to recreate myself at college; I could choose to change my personality to anything I wanted. Instead of being vulnerable and “a follower”, I wanted to stand up for myself and be a leader. If there’s anything I’d suggest to prepare for the most or to work on, it’s going to be your personality. You get to recreate yourself. You could’ve been labeled the class nerd, but now you can take charge of your life. You could’ve been the jock in high school who got too much attention and now you can stay low-key. Now that you’re moving on to the next chapter in your life, you get to become whoever you want.
“Freshman year is really all about learning about yourself and not finding so much of “where you belong” but really what you believe in and what you stand for. Because in college, it really doesn’t matter what kind of people you hang out with, everyone is so past that clique kind of life it’s all really about being true to you.” –Abby Graff, Grand Valley State University majoring in Biomedical Sciences
"College is what you make it. You get out what you put in. The more engaged and willing you are to step out of your comfort zone, the more gratifying the experience will be. Don't be afraid to do things you would never do back home. Freshman year is your chance to reinvent yourself. Don't run from that, but embrace it." – Josh Morford, Cincinnati Christian University majoring in Biblical Studies
One thing that I struggled with was figuring out what exactly I needed for my freshman year. I checked out every Pinterest board and online list that I could find, and to be honest, you only need less than half the things on that list. I bought a laptop tray, extra batteries, decorations, etc. Don’t buy any of those things until you actually need them. If anything you do actually need it’s probably a lot of foods, gift cards for gas and food, a rain coat, a winter coat, a hat, gloves, rain boots, snow boots, basically things to keep you warm and fed. Don’t forget to bring toothpaste and a toothbrush, clothes, bedding, and a laundry basket. The laundry bag will become too awkward to carry.
It’s OK to change your major. High school pushes you to make a decision about what you want to do with your life. You might decide you want to do business, the political science, then journalism, before finally narrowing it down to social work. It is perfectly fine to be undecided, just take the time to figure out what exactly you want.
Nothing can really prepare you for what you’re about to encounter. This is a new experience, a new chapter in your life. Keep an open mind and a full wallet; you’re about to go broke.
