I just graduated. There are so many emotions running through my mind as I approach my final days at the University of North Dakota, the place that I have made my home for the past four years. It seems like just yesterday that I walked up to the first floor of Brannon Hall, 101A, as a scared freshman, praying to everything that is holy that I wouldn't cry (I did). But now that I look back, I wouldn't trade a single day here. So here are some of the biggest lessons I've learned and tips that I can give to anyone looking to start college.
1. Call your family from time to time.
You might think that you're invincible to the world now, but trust me, you're not. You'll have bad days and you'll need a support system when you do.
2. Make new friends.
I'm not saying abandon your old friends from high school, but college gives you an opportunity to meet so many new people who are interested in the same things as you. Take advantage of it.
3. Don't be afraid to make mistakes.
You're only human, we all make them. Learn from them.
4. Don't panic.
It's better to solve your problems head-on. This way you can go to bed at night and be proud of yourself for conquering whatever went wrong.
5. Quit procrastinating.
That essay due at 8 a.m. tomorrow isn't going to write itself.
6. Go to class.
Sure, it's completely OK to skip a few classes every now and then, but don't let it become a habit. Nothing is worse than actually showing up to class one day and being completely lost and finding out you have a test that Wednesday. No amount of cramming will save you from the wrath of this test.
7. DO NOT THROW AWAY YOUR SYLLABUS.
Cherish them with your life. I just love it when I miss class and e-mail my professor to see what they did that day and he/she replies, "Look at the syllabus." Ouch.
8. Get to know your professors.
For one, they're the only people standing in the way of you getting a job after college or not. Also, it's pretty neat when they see you in Target and ask you how your day is going. Networking.
9. Use your time wisely.
Did you really need that five hour nap after class? No.
10. Take a "fun" class.
I took at class where we just showed up, learned how to study properly and ate bacon. I'm not even lying. We made bacon in our classroom and I got 3 credits for it.
11. If the cafeteria food looks or smells sketchy, it is.
Don't risk it. Shout out to my mom for listening to my sobbing because of food poisoning at three in the morning. Second shout out goes to the "old" Wilkerson hall.
12. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
I took a class that was way over my head and instead of letting it get the best of me, I went to my professor's office hours three times a week to get help. At the end of the semester, I was supposed to get a C, but she gave me a B because she knew I was trying.
13. Choose wisely when picking roommates.
I honestly cannot stress this enough.
14. Get a job.
Trust me, you need the money. All that Fireball isn't going to pay for itself.
15. Realize that you do not need a significant other in order to survive.
Learn to love yourself first before you have to love someone else too.
16. For Christ's sake, go to the gym at least once a week.
It's not that hard. The hardest part is getting yourself to go there.
17. You do not need that $90 tanning package.
Trust me, it's a complete waste of money.
18. Take care of your drunk friends.
Because odds are, that's going to be you next weekend.
19. Quit trying to "fit in."
There are plenty of other "Lord of the Rings" crazed students out there who would love to dress up like wizards on Friday night with you instead of getting belligerently drunk.
20. Realize how big of a privilege it is to even be going to college.
Don't take a second of it for granted because there are millions of people out there who would love to be writing that 13 page paper in exchange for an education.
21. Not showering is not OK.
PEOPLE HAVE TO SIT BY YOU. STOP THIS MADNESS.
22. Quit letting your fears hold you back from accomplishing something.
Self-explanatory.
23. Embrace the "poor college kid" lifestyle.
We're all just living the dream here.
24. Learn to do things on your own.
No one wants to hold your hand while you go to the bookstore.
25. Realize...
that life is hard, assignments are going to test your patience, and things will go wrong, but you're doing all of this to better yourself and get an education so you can hopefully do something that you love for the rest of your life. Make the most of it while you can.
