Good friends are hard to come by—appreciate the ones you have.
Having close and meaningful friends is sometimes hard to achieve at a university. You have probably experienced enrolling in a class, creating study groups, becoming closer to people in your study groups but then when the quarter ends, you never talk to them again. Why does this happen? It’s not necessarily that people don’t like each other, it’s mostly because certain people only hang out to study. A great way to test friendships is to hang out outside of class and see if it is actually worth your time. I feel as if I completely knew who my friends were in sophomore year. This is because I started to take different classes than them, yet we would still meet up and check in on each other and have fun together. Relationships like these are important because in college it’s nice to have someone who is there for you, who can make you smile, and support you endlessly.
Comparing yourself to others will destroy you
It is so easy to compare yourself to others, especially in college. There are so many people doing so many amazing things. Many people feel pressured to do more and to be incredible at things that they haven’t even practiced. I used to be a victim of this way of thinking. I finally realized that it is illogical to think this way. Everyone is different. That being said, how can you compare yourself to someone else? You simply can’t. All you really can do is compare yourself to yourself, because you are ever changing, but live out your own experiences. So take on your life day by day, and improve yourself by looking at the past you, and no one else.
You CAN find people that share the same interests as you
It’s actually pretty awesome that you can find people that share the same interests as you on campus. Most likely you will find them in your major classes. In high school that probably was not the case. Either people were unsure of their interests or maybe your interests are very specific. For my case, I only knew that I was interested in the human brain and how it functions. In college, I was able to refine this interest and make it specific by taking classes and talking to students and faculty about it more. When you meet people with similar interests as you, it makes you feel a bit “found”. You meet the people who understand why you are interested in that subject, aren’t bored about talking to you about it, and find the same things as exciting as you do!
Professors are (normally) approachable
In my freshman year, I talked to few professors outside of class. It was also hard to go to office hours for long periods of time if I didn’t have very specific questions to ask. This is because I felt like if I had nothing to say, it would be awkward. If I didn’t “sound smart” I would be embarrassed. That is actually not the case. Professors usually love it when students come to office hours, even if it’s to be surrounded in the environment of the material or to ask questions. It can even be nice to talk about other topics about the same subject, but not necessarily pertaining to a specific class. Professors are people too. They were students once. They understand to a certain degree what you are going through and are there to nourish your curiosity and help you learn the material.
Your grades do not define you
To some this sounds cliche, and to others it might sound surprising. It is actually true. We all learn differently and experience life differently. Just because you got a C on a test and the person next to you got an A does not define your intelligence. Perhaps you didn’t get to study as much because something came up. Maybe you understood the question differently. There are so many possibilities in why two students could have different scores but understand the material just as much. Do not let your grades define you. Keep learning, creating, growing and living your life, without the judgement of a grade.
Everyone is going through a struggle
It’s easy to feel you are in this alone. Do you ever try to hard on a subject but still perform poorly? Perhaps you are falling behind and feel like you catch up. Maybe you go to lecture and have no idea what the teacher just taught you, and then you panic. You are not the only one. There are people in your class that are struggling, too. It happens. As time goes on and you take more and more classes, you tend to figure out strategies to not fall behind, to be proactive about asking questions and how to manage time effectively to not fall too behind (after all this IS the quarter system…).
Going to class is very important
Attending class in most classes can really improve your grade. This is because even just hearing it from your professor can help you remember it. It is then even more helpful if you write notes during class. The next step is to read over your notes, ask questions and/or listen to podcasts. This will help solidify material and concepts taught in class. Doing this consistently will help you do better on tests, understand the material and will help you not fall behind.
As important as education is, the personal growth you acquire here is great
College for most provides not only a great education, but a lot of learning experiences. You learn more about yourself, how to communicate effectively with other adults, how to manage time, how to deal with stress… the list goes on. It is amazing how much I have grown since my own freshman year. For example, I am more comfortable talking to my professors, I freak out less before taking an exam and I manage my time a lot better. It may take time, but you will notice the change if you keep trying to improve your skillset.
Don’t rush things
So many students want to rush school in order to go on to higher education or straight into the workforce. I get it. At the same time, college can be precious. Not only are there multiple types of classes, but taking your time to a certain degree can really save your GPA. Yes, your GPA does not define you, but I will say that it can help you get more opportunities. That being said, taking your time in college can also allow for time to get better at certain things, whether that be a language, math, science, art that can ultimately help you pursue more opportunities. No one really looks at how long it took you to graduate from college. They look at whether you are capable and passionate.
Have a good time!
All in all, enjoy your college experience. Yes, you will have stressful moments and bad experiences, but you will also have great ones. It is important to try to do well, but it is also important to be happy. Physical and mental health can be overlooked. You also do not want to look back on college and not have any wonderful memories to remember. Learn lots, have fun and make your health a priority– you deserve it.
