In the midst of all the craziness that college entails, I decided to sit down and come up with 26 tips and things that I have learned since I arrived on campus in August.
Always stay positive. This goes for all parts of life, not just college. I have found that being negative offers no value and remaining positive has a little way of working its magic. By staying positive, outcomes of events usually turn out for the better.
Be present. While hiding behind a closed door in the dorms is definitely an option (and, at times, seems like the easiest one), putting yourself out there and engaging in all aspects of college will truly bring out the best in yourself. This goes for classes too, not just socialization. No matter where you are, a huge chunk of your college tuition goes to the classes you get to attend. Make sure you are making the most out of your time and engage yourself.
Create your own memories. College is a short period of time in one’s life, during which they truly get to be off on their own, working hard to earn a degree. Yet, it is not only about studying all of the time; be sure to venture out with friends and create those stories that you will laugh about and tell your kids years down the line.
Don’t forget about your hometown. In college, everything is brand new and exciting. It is a wonderful opportunity to make new friends, but do not forget about the ones who have been by your side all these years. They are the ones who have been with you for a long time, and are deeply curious about how you are doing, whether it be good or bad.
Expect the unexpected. there is absolutely no way to predict what is going to happen on a day to day basis. To some extent yes, you know that you have three classes that day, you’re going to spend a couple hours at your job, and perhaps you are going to squeeze in a workout at some point, but the details that comprise into these basic, daily events are unknown. The ability to adapt to whatever the day throws at you is a great skill to acquire, although it is a hard one. It is kind of nice, in a way; it keeps you constantly on your feet and constantly busy.
Freedom is a privilege, not a right. Yes, college gives the impression that you are all off on your own and can go out until 3 a.m., not remembering the night when you wake up the next morning, but be sure to not abuse this. Everyone has the freedom to make their own choices and “be an adult,” but constantly doing whatever you please is just setting yourself up for a bad outcome. Do not take advantage of the amount of freedom you have. “Be an adult” and make smart choices.
Go to sleep! Honestly, last semester there were SO many nights when my roommate and I went to bed at 2 a.m., knowing full well that we had to wake up in time to go to breakfast and make it to a 9 a.m. class. And yet, we just kept repeating the cycle every night until the weekends, when we messed up our sleep schedule even more. Sleep is extremely important, and is the number one thing adults in my life tell me to address when I want to make a change. I honestly feel so much better getting enough sleep, and it prepares me for the day.
Hope for a brighter tomorrow. There will be days where you are just so overwhelmed and feel as if nothing is going right. I have learned that everyone, at one point or another, whether they admit it or not, has bad days. Know that the bad days will be put behind you and that there are plenty of great days to come.
Ice cream can solve a lot of problems. Enough said.
Just breathe. Remember to take those moments to stop and remember who you are. It is so easy to get caught up in the stress of college. Taking time for yourself and acknowledging that everything is going to be okay is a great way to process those crazy emotions you may be feeling.
Kill them with kindness. No matter where you are, there are going to be people who really get to you, people who you just cannot seem to get along with, people who rub you the wrong way. This is completely normal. Not everyone is going to get along, that is the simple truth. Yet, it is incredible to see what happens when you are kind. In times of conflict, being the bigger person in an attempt to try and eliminate any tension there may be with you and another person has more benefits than disadvantages. Nobody gains anything from being mean, rude or inconsiderate.
Let it go. Things happen that will really set you off. learn how to move past the frustrations and make the most out of everything. Holding on to things for too long will not only get you no where, but the things you are holding on to will start to control you.
Make the most out of everything. Everything that happens to you in college (and in life), is supposed to happen for a reason. Fail a test? Take that as a lesson that, in life, you cannot win every race you run. Professor cancels class? Take that as an opportunity to grab a quick bite to eat with one of your floor mates you have been meaning to catch up with. Alone in your room on a Saturday night? Make that a moment to take time for yourself.
Nobody has it all together. Before i left for college, a good friend of mine who is currently a sophomore texted me and said, “…it will seem as if everyone is having a better time than you, when really they are feeling the same way you are.” I took that to heart and it really helped me. Talking to some of my friends and hearing that these emotions actually happen to everyone was very reassuring.
Open your eyes. look at the world around you. Being away from home, there are so many beautiful things to take in. Don’t spend the next couple years missing out on what is right in front of you.
Practice peace. My eighth-grade science teacher always assigned, as part of our weekend homework, us to “practice peace” and it really plays a role in college. Having tension or beef with someone can be super awkward. Getting into little arguments with some of your friends is bound to happen (after all, you see them all the time, every single day). Keeping the kindness around takes away the inevitable bitterness. ( may have touched on this earlier, but this is an important one.
Quit beating yourself up so much. You’re going to have hard times and things that you never thought would happen, are going to happen.
RA’s and PM’s (that’s peer minister for all of you) are great resources. I got so lucky and got a really great RA. They have at least a year of college under their belt and have been through all of the same struggles you will and are going through. They know exactly what you are going through, to some extent at least, and are there for you endlessly.
Say yes, but know when to say no. Saying yes and stepping out of your comfort zone every once is a while is great, but saying no when you know you are either tired, uncomfortable, or simply just not up for going out, is perfectly okay as well.
Trust your gut. No matter the situation, that little voice that always appears in your head the first nine times out of 10 is right. Listen to that voice.
Use your time wisely. A day is only twenty-four hours, and it goes by pretty quickly. Make the most of it. Sitting in your bed watching Netflix or hiding yourself away can be nice, but is also the most unproductive way to spend your time. Go out with friends, review those chemistry notes, do all that you can to fill the time with things that will be worthwhile.
Videotape, as well as take photos of, your experience! Documenting your time at college is a great way to make those memories last. Take photos of everything. You are going to want something to look back on in the future.
Wait. Things not going your way? Wait a few days. Better yet, wait a few hours. Things are constantly changing. Wait before you make any decisions. I have noticed a lot of people make impulse decisions and drastic choices and they don’t usually turn out to be the best… Wait and see if what you really want is the same the next day.
Xoxo (since nothing starts with x…) this falls under remembering to love your friends and to always be there for them. Even though you have only known these people for a short while, everyone is trying to live their lives in just the same way you are, but sometimes life gets to the best of us. Having a support system and loving those who love you and vice versa really will help you get through all the tough times.
Yes, you’re going to feel alone, but you’re also going to have the time of your life. I will admit, there have been multiple times when I just sat in my dorm on the verge of tears and I felt like there was no one I could talk to, because I didn’t know how I would explain how I was feeling. I now realize this feeling of loneliness was a natural feeling, and in order to know what belonging feels like, I needed to feel what it felt like to be alone. On the brighter side, i have never laughed harder and have made amazing friends who I am so lucky to have.
Zits and acne are a thing. You’re going to break out, you’ll get over it.
