It feels like just yesterday I was getting ready for my first day of 1st grade. I had my Tommy Hilfiger shirt and khaki shorts on, little backpack packed up, and I was ready to go. I posed for first-day pics, went to school, ate the first-day hot dog lunch, and came home. Life was so simple; it was completely innocent. Fast forward and I was like most seniors in high school, excited but unsure of what was to come when my parents dropped me off at school. What was to come was the best, most challenging, and craziest four months of my life.
The first thing I learned (that hit me like a freight train actually) is that college completely revolves around your ability to manage time. The clock will always be on and working against you. "When can I study", "when can I do laundry", and "are those parties in the movies a real thing?" Some days get so busy that lists apportioning every hour of the day are necessary. The other part of this lesson is that this lifestyle isn't going anywhere. "Eight period days" will never be coming back; you have to know your schedule and work things into it. The sooner you embrace this feeling the easier the balancing act gets.
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Meeting people isn't, doesn't have to be, scary at all. Freshman year is kind of like a koi pond at the zoo, there are more fish than you can count; you're bound to see one you like! While I totally acknowledge that starting small talk is not everyone's forte, it is a necessary evil. Making an effort to speak to everyone you can without crazily running around will suit you well! You never know who you're going to meet; keeping an open mind is the best thing you can do. New people bring so many good things into your life: a new perspective, story, and friendship. Not everyone is like this however, and another great part about college is that you don't have to give anyone you don't want to the time of day.
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The most important thing I've learned is that I am enough. The world will try to knock you down: bad test, bad interaction with a friend, or maybe even the bad dining hall food is just driving you crazy. At the end of the day though, your happiness is all that matters. Relishing the small victories, big successes, and special moments will make everything so worthwhile. I've found that fitting in time to just sit and clear my head, call my mom (which everyone needs to do), or even just walk around campus helps me stay focused. It's so important to tell yourself that you are enough and your journey is special to you; you will grow at your own rate. You will fail, fall down, and get scuffed up. Just get back up, smile, and try agin.
College is a great place. You get to try things, discover new interests, and meet new people. If you decide to make college good then it will be, it's completely up to you! College is not and never will be perfect; that's why it's great. If you remember who you are, where you come from, and that you are enough, then you're bound to have an awesome experience.
