With my freshman year of college coming to a close, I'd like to dedicate this piece to every incoming college freshman entering their dream school in the fall semester. This is written from the perspective of someone who didn't know what to expect upon arrival to her dream college and I hope it serves as a guide to making your freshman year memorable and full of life changing experiences!
1. Your freshman roommate probably won't be your best friend, and that is perfectly okay.
Upon arrival to college, your roommate will be one of the first people you meet and you'll automatically feel comfort in knowing that you can always rely on she/her/they to surround yourself with the first few weeks of school (with respect to the fact that your roommate is a decent human being), but one of the best experiences of being in college is meeting people who are completely different from you. People who may or may not share the same ideologies as you, and people who will ultimately expose you to new thoughts and ideas you did not know prior to starting college.Such, it is so incredibly important to branch out upon entering college, and get to know people you would like to build relationships with. It is healthier to have a roommate who understands your need for space and time alone, then being with them 24/7.
2. Learn to manage your money effectively.
Seriously, Chipotle isn't that good and it damn well ain't good enough to be eating every other day, so sit your cute bad self to the school cafeteria and eat something you can actually afford. Also, you never know really know what circumstances might occur throughout the school year, and it is always important to have money in your account to deal with these situations!
3. Get to know your professors outside of the classroom.
Fun fact: your professors are *real* human beings outside of the classroom! They have lives just like you, *gasps*, and they have some very introspective things to say in terms of you getting through this beautiful thing we call life.
4. Don't pull any all-nighters. Love yourself.
It isn't worth the exam you will probably fail or do poorly in, and it sure as hell isn't worth your eye twitching from all the caffeine you felt the need to drink to get through the night. Sleeping helps you process every bit of information you learn and we all really need to stop lying to ourselves and acting like cramming information-material the night before actually works! Sleep is a real necessity people, stop thinking it isn't!
5. Take your advisor meetings seriously.
Your advisors know what they are talking about (most of the time) and you getting an undergraduate degree low key depends on them telling you what classes you need to take to fulfill your major requirements, so don't miss these meetings and act like you can figure everything out on your own, because you can't boo!
6. Show up to class.
Stop signing up for 8 a.m. classes every semester and act like you'll wake up for them, and stop missing class just because your mom can't wake your ass up and force you to go. You and/or your parents are paying a large sum of money for these classes, so show up!
7. Take the time to organize yourself and figure out what study habits don't and do work for you.
8. Being undecided on your major is completely fine.
For the first two years of college, you should take classes that interest you and don't interest you, and listen to the suggestions your advisors make. College is all about new experiences, about exploring your interests and finding out how your interests and passions can lead you to a career that you'll love doing for the rest of your life.
9. Above all, your mental and emotional health are worth everything.
Don't ever sacrifice these for anything else. You should always put yourself first above all and know when you should get help for your mental and emotion health deterioration. College is about rediscovering and discovering yourself, and a part of that is knowing how important it is to take care of yourself first. You are worth every bit of your needs and wants.
10. Always make time to call your loved ones.
They miss you and love you dearly, and despite all of the newfound freedom you now have, and fun you're experiencing being in a new environment, taking the time out of your day to call your loved ones to make sure they know just how much they are loved for all the support and love they give you is worth more than any "fun" you're having in college.
