That summer before college, I thought I knew everything there was to know about college. Thanks to an older silbing who already graduated from college, and to all of the helpful Pinterest pins, I was prepared (well at least I thought I was). You can get as much helpful advice as you can, but you well not be fully prepared for what lies ahead. (Beware, this article is mostly geared towards those girls, but boys, you might learn a thing or two from this).
While you know that you do have to walk everywhere you go on campus, you don't realize how far everything is or how much walking is required to get places. You also forgert about the 25 pound backpack that you have with you. So make you sure you have those comfy shoes and no heels.
The weather is your master. As in high school, you could put on that coat just to school and take it off to show everyone your great outfit, you can't really do that in college. You will have that coat on most of the time. The only time you can really show off your outfit is when you're sitting down in your class or when you're in a building longer than an hour. Other wise, that coat is always on. Now in the summer and spring, you can show off that amazing outfit all day. The only problem is, you might be sweating off your makeup that you worked so hard for. So dress accordingly to the weather.
Those people you meet the first week of school, they probably wont be your friends. Sure, you'll have someone to talk to in class, but after that semester, you won't talk to them again. You'll meet a lot of people in college, and, yeah, you'll definitely make friends, but not everyone you meet and talk to will be there next month when you want to hang out. It's the truth, but you'll forget all about it when you're out with your friends after the big game, having fun!
That freshman fifteen is about as real as that grade on your last exam. If you think that walking from class to class every day is going to keep it off, you're wrong. After sitting all day in class and then sitting all night studying, while eating that pizza and popcorn, going to the gym every week is your only hope, especially during finals week. So drink lots of water and get that butt to the gym.
Get used to getting six hours of sleep or less a night. Not only are you going to up doing homework or studying, but there are those nights where you binge watch a season on Netflix or stay up hanging out with friends. Getting eight hours of sleep is blessing. So drink that coffee. But if you don't like coffee, you'll learn to love it or buy a lot of energy drinks.
This one coincides with the last thing I mentioned. You don't realize how much time you have to set aside for studying or homework. I spend most of my nights staying up studying or trying to get homework done before midnight. Stress becomes part of your daily life, and you start to get used to sleepless nights and you start thinking about dropping out to work a gentleman's club because you would make more money. Caffeine starts to become your best friend, school becomes your enemy, and sleep starts to become something that you forget what it feels like to even have it. So never wait until last minute do something (as I am currrently putting physics studying off as I am writing this for you). But just remember that all of this caffeine and the sleepless nights will get you to graduate and go on to do something you'll love.
But just remember that college isn't horrible. While you are practically broke and sleepy most of the time, you'll have the best time of your life. Everyone's college experience is different, so while someone might say they hate one thing, you might end up loving it. And while you think you know everything about college before getting here, you'll find out a lot more once you do get here. But don't worry about it. Just get here with a happy attitude and have fun. Don't afraid to try things and go out to meet people.
Sincerely, your college sophomore who still learning things about college
