It's the day you've been anticipating since the first day of senior year. It's your first day of college, and you may have a string of emotions. Between nerves and excitement, college is a brand new chapter of life. No matter where you're going, it's important to live life to the fullest while you're in college.
It's important to remember why you're in college. Not everyone gets to go to college so you should feel honored to attend. Keep your priorities straight and remember that you are in college to get an education and start your career. Whenever you are feeling down in school, remember how special it is to be in college and continue to do your best.
Don't let upperclassmen in college scare you. I know that when I went into college I was scared because I had all of these other students warning me about how hard it would be. Don't let that discourage you. You are the one that gets to decide how your college experience goes. Use the advice others give you to your advantage. If someone says that a class is difficult, plan extra study time and prepare for the challenge. You are the one who decides how you do in school and how you handle every situation. College is your experience, don't let others dictate it.
Make sure to take care of yourself. Staying up until 3 a.m. to finish an essay is all fun and games until you need to be up early the next day for class. Plan your tasks accordingly. Make sure you have plenty of time to eat, sleep, and stay active. In college, you'll have plenty of time to do everything you want, as long as you learn to manage it. Your mental health is more important than you think, and staying up late or depriving yourself of sleep will catch up with you in the end.
Try new things. Try a new restaurant you've never been to or wear something you usually wouldn't wear. College is all about the new experiences that life has to offer, and it's important to take advantage of it. Go to special events around your campus, join a club, or be courageous and talk to strangers.
College is fun, but only if that's the way you make it. Yes, it's hard. I'm not going to sit here and lie. College isn't easy but it's not impossible to manage. The classes are very different from high school, but they get easier to handle as you go. The classes are interesting, the activities on campus are fun, and the friendships you make can last a lifetime.
Have fun your freshman year, and remember to have a little adventure.
