Moving away to college is like entering a new universe. Even if you commute, college is a completely different ballgame than high school was. The thing is, people can tell you all about what living on a college campus is like, but everyone’s experience is different.
Stepping foot on campus for the first time as a student on move-in day is absolutely surreal. Everything is new, you hardly know anybody, if anyone, and the end-of-summer heat makes moving in and getting settled exhausting. What freshmen residence hall has air conditioning? Probably not the one you’re moving into for the next nine months. It’s okay, though, because it’s really only hot for the first two to three weeks, so don’t worry!
Going into orientation, I wish someone had told me that it’s okay to be nervous. It’s okay to talk to people you’ve never seen before because they’re all in the same boat. Nobody knows each other and if you’re too embarrassed to talk to someone new, that’s probably okay too because someone will strike up a conversation with you. Some people will like you, some won’t. You’ll find the people who will stick by you no matter what, even if it’s not right away.
Roommate situations aren’t always the best. Here’s something that should be advertised well: you don’t have to be best friends with your roommate(s) and it’s okay not to like them. As long as you’re civil and you feel safe in your environment, find friends elsewhere. Not every match is made in heaven, far from it. If you’re lucky enough to find a best friend in your roommate, that’s awesome! Don’t take it for granted because a lot of people have a rough time not being able to pick their roommates freshman year.
When I started living in a college res hall, I just assumed that everyone went out every weekend and drank all the time. I thought that if I didn’t do that, people would judge me or not want to hang out with me. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Don’t get me wrong, some fun every once in a while is a good thing, but I’m not one to party every weekend. I found out pretty quickly on the first weekend that there are a lot of people who are the same way. I was surprised but totally relieved that I could hang out and play Cards Against Humanity on the weekends or have a movie night with the people on my floor. Partying isn’t an essential part of your college experience. At least, it doesn’t have to be. For some people it is, and that’s okay too!
The point is, nobody cares whether you go out dressed for the bar, or if you stay in and watch movies wearing your pajamas. All that matters is that you stay safe and make the right decisions for you. Even if you make a few wrong decisions along the way, use them as a learning experience. College is your time to make mistakes and figure out what’s best for you before you enter the “real world.”
Going off of that, be yourself. I know it’s such a cliché thing to say, but it’s something I can’t stress enough. Be who you are, whoever that is and I promise you’ll go further than you would otherwise.
It’s so important to do what you love. If you hate your major or you’re just struggling too much, change it. Maybe your parents expect you to follow in their footsteps, or do something “better” with your life than they did. So, what? In the end, I promise you that your happiness is the most important thing to those who love you. Follow your dreams.
Lastly, take care of yourself. Speaking from experience, it is unbelievably easy to get sick on a college campus. Try to eat healthier, drink more water, wash your hands more, and get more sleep than you would normally because college is stressful enough without being sick. It gets hard sometimes, trying to study and get everything done, but missing one assignment versus missing a whole week of classes because you can’t get out of bed, asking for an extension (even if you don’t get it) is a much better option.
All of those things are really important, but one of the most vital things to your college experience is to enjoy it. These are the best four years of your life — don’t waste them.
