Once High School ends, a new chapter of your life begins. Whether you chose to go to college or start a career, it's a big time of change for everyone around. Kind of like the start of middle school. It's a crucial time that is the beginning of your future. Finally your parents can let you eat dessert for dinner or watch scary movies (like the entire series of Alvin & The Chipmunks: Halloween Collection) past your bedtime. But if you're starting college, there are a few other things you have to get used to.
1. Exams
Tests in high school were always easy and if they were hard, you had all of the other 150 grades in the class the teacher would plug in to cushion it. Now you're in college and the only grades are three exams and some quizzes. Naturally, I thought, "Okay, I'll study a lot and I'll kill those tests. Easy, solid, I got this."
Then you get the test... You read the first question and you just kind of sit there like...
And then you get the test grade back and you're just like
(People will change their majors if it means they can take less math. It's true.)
2. Peers
Making friends is hard all around. Leaving home and leaving behind everything you once knew and everyone for that matter, is hard. It's a weird transition, but it's important to get out and have new experiences. Just know a lot of people struggle with making new friends. Just a quick tip, be yourself and don't be aggressive.
3. Sleep
Sleep becomes a cherished activity. You'll find yourself doing homework or studying and look at the clock to see it's already a wee hour in the morning. Walking around with bags under your eyes is common and those nights that you get to sleep, those are the nights you'll live for.
4. Midterms and Finals Weeks
Suddenly the dreaded week of midterms or finals is approaching, they aren't upon you yet, but they are coming. And they are coming fast. You know you should be studying, you know what you need to do. But instead you find yourself watching netflix or doing just about anything EXCEPT school work.
But finally you've just turned in your last test and for once you actually have nothing to do, nothing to put off, and you smile and think
5. Flirting.
I know entering college I had this hope, that maybe now that I'm 18 and a free lady in college, I'll magically be pulling in all of the boys. I thought 'This is it. This is the year that I'll flirt with guys like normal ladies do.' (But I still use the word ladies and sing in narration of my life.) So, no. I would go as far to say I have regressed since coming to college when it comes to my flirting techniques. Aside from what you may think, flirting nevER GETS EASIER. Take it from me, and Leslie Knope. Flirting is hard. Let's face it.
But maybe you'll be lucky and score a date.
6. The Bathroom.
Alas here's an aspect no one addresses and it's the fact of going to the bathroom while sharing a suite, where the walls are thin and nothing is a secret, including your bowel movements. Maybe you had one too many tacos from Taco Bell or you gave into that cheeseburger from some sketchy joint that just didn't sit well with you and you end up in your bathroom cursing yourself. And you find yourself just talking to yourself thinking...
7. Being Alone.
Freshman year I heard was your 'lonely year'. I remember hearing that and being scared that I would feel on my own too often. Unlike high school though, if you eat by yourself or sit in class on your own, it's not weird and you don't seem unsocial even if you are! It just seems like your friends have different schedules than you so it's okay if you're like Chris Traeger, just remind yourself...
8. All-nighters.
Without a doubt we will all have to face the dreaded all-nighters. Either we'll know they're coming or they'll spring up on us. You end up in the library and a lot of the time you think you're being productive, until the next day comes and you see the test and you just kind of realize you're on no sleep and you're still gonna fail. You walk past the library the same day thinking...
But you'll do it again. We all do.
9. Meet Cool People.
You might have met some really cool folk in high school and you might even keep in touch with them. But a lot of times, whether you want to admit it or not, you'll lose touch or someone will change and you'll be left with only memories. But do not fear because one thing about college is, you really do get to meet really cool people and they'll do anything for you. You will be able to be yourself and they'll be dorky with you right back.
10. Appointments.
Everyone's excited for growing up. Even if it's only a little part of you. Whether it's the fact you can go out whenever, even if it's wicked late, like 8:30PM on a Monday night, or it's the fact you can finally skip class without mom knowing, we all allow ourselves to get excited for adulthood. But we forget one thing. Appointments. Your mom will say, "call them, make an appointment," and your heart will drop and the world will stop turning. The true tests of adulthood have come. They're upon you. And most of the time, you won't make that call or you won't until your mom makes you or you pretend you already did it the next time you talk to your mom.
11. Stay cool.
One thing though, whether you're having fun in college or you're in the dumps about grades or friends, never forget that you're killing it...
I mean, am I right ladies?
