College isn't like the movies we watch when we’re thirteen, begging our parents to drop us off at the corner of the movie theater so we look “cool” in front of our friends. It requires a lot of hard work, determination, and a very strong will to succeed. Regardless of how prepared you think you are for college, it's a learning experience. You’ll learn a lot, and you’ll learn it quickly. You’ll realize that some of the clichés you read about on Pinterest’s “How to Survive Freshman Year” posts are undoubtably true. And you’ll also learn things that are personal to you-- things that a Pinterest article can’t possibly get just right.
Here’s what I've learned:
- Don’t Skip Class
I read this advice countless times on Pinterest, Facebook, etc… and yet I still found myself doing it. It’s hard when you have a professor who constantly lectures or goes off on tangents. You know what you’re walking into each and every class and it can become pretty tempting to not show up. But here’s the thing-- and it’s probably not what you want to hear, it sure as hell wasn't what I wanted to hear any time I convinced myself not to skip class-- it’s your money. You’re paying a ton of money-- for what? I’m paying the money to get an education and to better myself. I’m not bettering myself by not going to class and I’m wasting valuable money that is piling up in debt as I type the words on this page. I’ve learned my lesson. - Don’t Shy Away From Experiences
As a freshman entering college, you’ll have a preset disposition as to how things are supposed to go. That’s what you’ve been told. And when things don't go as planned, you’ll freak out. I know. I’ve been there. I was there yesterday. It doesn't go away. Not yet, at least. Take classes outside of your major. One of two things will happen: you be more sure of your declared major, or you’ll realize that you’ve changed your mind. You might be a class or two behind, but at least you figured it out sooner rather than later. - Don’t Procrastinate
I might be an anomaly with this as I figured out the importance of not procrastinating in high school, but I still caught myself waiting until the last minute a couple of times this semester. For me, I would rather just get the thing done because if I don’t, it just hangs over my head until I do. Or more likely, I forget, get to class, the professor asks for the assignment, and my heart sinks a little. Keep a planner, get sticky notes, and make lists. Oh, and don’t lose the syllabi. - Get Some Sleep
Easier said than done, right? Sleep is such a coveted thing in college and nobody seems to get any of it. Today, a girl in my 2:00 p.m. class said she just woke up and hadn't had breakfast yet. She had stayed up all night writing a paper and studying for finals. So it’s either you don't get any sleep at all, or your sleep schedule is far from normal. - Coffee (And Matcha Green Tea!)
Perfect transition from life tip #4! But seriously, I’ve always liked coffee and in high school, I had many all nighters studying for a Bio test or working on a lab and the only thing getting me through that next day was a black iced coffee at 6:30 a.m. When my friends would see that iced coffee, they'd know. Starbucks is a godsend with its cold brew coffee, and on days when you don't need that much of a pick-me-up, but want some caffeine, go for the Matcha Green Tea Latté. So. Good.
