The first year of college is a transition for a lot of eager, fresh out of high school teenagers. Here are a couple things I learned from my freshman year.
1. Naps become your best friend
When I was little and forced to take naps, my parents would come to check on me and I would pretend I was asleep. As a kid, I just wanted to be social and play constantly. On the other hand, college is exhausting. With that said, I take about four, one hour naps during the weekday. Take advantage of naps, they make a big difference.
2. Home cooked meals are heaven
When you eat in the cafeteria every meal, it becomes tiring. The food doesn't taste the same as your mom's home cooked meals. Eventually, when you go home for a break, all you can do is eat home cooked meals.
3. Money becomes your enemy
Going from relying on parents to help support you with financial decisions to being on your own is a learning process. For me, shopping alone is my weakness. Looking back at my first semester, my eyes were bigger than my wallet. Because I learned from those mistakes, my second semester I made a budget and was more frugal with my money. There's always the saying, "I'm just a poor college student" and this rings truth to how many students feel, but if you make a laid out plan that worry will go away.
4.Time is precious
In college, there are a variety of people who spend their time differently: one who doesn't study at all and is out until 2am everyday, one who studies moderately and finds time to hang with friends, then there's the one who studies all the time and is in bed no later than 11. There can be a balance for all these situations like studying for a couple hours, then take a break and hang with friends or do a fun activity to give your brain some time to reboot.The day goes by so quickly and each minute is precious.
5. Studying revolves around everything
Professors say that as many hours spent in class you double that amount and that's how many hours you should study every week. That's a lot of studying, and a bit unethical. Everyone has their own rhythm of studying. Outline assignments, be ahead, study in groups, talk to professors, find a tutor... these are all good tools to help in successful studying. One major study habit students have a tendency to fall into is procrastination. My tip for studying: don't do all nighters. At a certain point, no matter how much coffee or energy you think you have sometime during the night your studying becomes unproductive. Plus, in the morning you will think more clearly. Be intentional on studying days or weeks before.
6. Old friends and New
Leaving friends from home is a hard thing to do, but as your college career goes on, you see who your true friends are. Old ones will leave, but new ones will come, and most people say their life-long buddies are from college. Cherish the times spent with friends. Be intentional with friendships.
7. It Challenges your faith
The most important aspect I have learned from my first year in college is being intentional with my faith. When I was at home, my parents pushed me to read my Bible everyday and go to church every week. Now, I have to learn how to do that on my own. Already, I have grown so much. I have learned to appreciate Christ's beauty and character in ways I wouldn't have been able to with my parents' guidance. While I am far beyond perfect, I know that He loves me through it all.College is a big transition and can become a load that you can carry on your shoulders. Luckily, if you have Christ, He will take those burdens away so you don't have to do it alone. He reminds me everyday when I fall (literally sometimes), He will pick me back up.
