Yesterday morning when my alarm went off at 6:45 a.m., I did the same thing I do every Monday morning, I went over my day in my head: the classes I have, the things I need to complete, the emails I have to respond to, etc. But, as I started making a mental list, something happened--I realized I only have three more Mondays left of my first year of college. Three.
Three more weeks of not being woken up by alarm, but by Julia calling my name because I didn’t turn my obnoxious alarm off fast enough.
Three more weeks of running out of my room every morning at exactly 7:51 to make it to the 8 a.m. class I’m fortunate enough to have every single day.
Three more weeks of making a to-do list for the week every Monday night and wondering if I will actually make it to the end of the week alive. (Yes, I really am that dramatic).
Although I cannot wait to be able to say I made it through my first year of college, it is definitely going to be weird not being a freshman anymore. To the incoming freshman, here are just a few things to keep in mind as you start your new journey:
1. Eat breakfast.
It took me until my second semester to realize just how important this is. I was always one of those people that rolled my eyes whenever anyone would try and explain to me how much better I would feel throughout the day if I ate breakfast. I can’t eat a lot in the morning, but I am not lying when I say the difference in energy and concentration is so noticeable from a bagel, a muffin or even just a granola bar.
2. Ask for help.
I never had a problem with asking a professor for help when I needed it, but I can definitely understand why some kids do. It can be intimidating or inconvenient to have to schedule a time to visit their office among everything else you have to do every day, but seriously, they want you to come. If you don’t understand something or have any doubt, go and see them. College is way too expensive to only half-ass learn something.
3. Try something new.
This sounds so dumb and over-used, but if I never went to the activities fair and signed up for the campus paper, I would not be a feature writer for my school’s paper, or writing weekly Odyssey articles that you all love so much. Seriously, though, I love to write and I didn’t know that until I gave it a try. These years are about finding yourself, and I promise you there is a place for everyone, you just have to look.
4. It is okay to not be okay.
If I could scream this I would. College is hard, even for the smartest, most hardworking students. There will be some weeks where you swear all of your professors got together and came up with the perfect combination of assignments due all on the same day just to ruin your life. Let me just say, there is no shame in one mental breakdown… okay, two… all right, three. I used to think I was the only person who felt this way, but when you take a step back and look around, no one is ‘okay’ all of the time, it’s impossible. At the same time, not every week can be hell, I promise the good ones outweigh the bad by far.
5. Have fun.
It’s no secret that we are all here to get a degree so that we can eventually establish a career. However, it is important to realize that most of us are 19-20 years old. It is essential to the college experience to explore the social aspect of going away to school. I’m not saying go out and get completely wasted every weekend, and I’m not even saying alcohol has to be involved, but I am saying that you have to make friends and interact with people. We will never get these years back. Work your ass off, but have a blast also.
6. Have self-discipline.
There will be some weekends where you won’t get to do everything you want, and I’m not going to lie, it really sucks sometimes. But, a good grade on a test means more to me than any party, and if you don’t feel the same way, then you’re not ready for college. There will be some nights where your Netflix time will be replaced with reading your bio textbook until you fall asleep, and even though your eyes are on fire and your head feels like it weighs one million pounds the next day, you still have to get up to make it your 8 a.m.
7. Do what makes you happy.
College is meant to be challenging no matter what your major is or what activities you’re involved in, but the reason people go through it is because they love it. I can speak on this, as I would most definitely agree that there is nothing more rewarding than watching hard work pay off or learning something that interests you. It is important to make sure that although there might be rough patches, you are enjoying the overall journey. If you’re unhappy with your major, change it. If you’re unhappy with the person you are, change that too. If you can’t handle all of your classes, talk to your adviser, and figure out a plan. These years are too crucial to spend them miserable.
8. Take a deep breath.
I have to remind myself this every day. I’m not lying, the phrase "just breathe, Rach" runs through my head more times than I can count. (College makes you go crazy, symptoms include: talking to yourself). While I definitely agree college is not for everyone, you are here for a reason and I think that counts for something. If it was easy everyone would do it. Just remind yourself why you’re here, and of the goals you’ve had since you were six.
If you are a rising freshman, I hope I didn’t scare you too much. Although this year has been one of the most challenging of my life, it has been an experience I would not trade for anything. I have discovered so much about myself, even past my love for writing, and I have connected with so many people that are so much like me, but also with people who are my polar opposite.
It’s bittersweet that my freshman year is coming to an end, but bring on sophomore year… I’m ready for you…
