The first day of freshman year, I tripped walking up the stairs and face-planted in front of a group of seniors. As it turns out, this was NOT the time to debut my brand new platform wedges. Thankfully, I've matured a lot since that fateful day; here are seven things I wish I'd figured out sooner:
1. Friendships change, but that’s alright.
You are never obligated to maintain toxic relationships; instead, figure out who makes you truly happy and reach out to them.
2. Keep an open mind.
I used to judge people based on just one or two interactions. Now, four years later, I have learned that first impressions are usually inaccurate and it’s important to give people a second chance. That girl who was rude to you in Sophomore chem class? Yeah, it’s time to let that grudge go.
3. Your grades are important, but they're not everything.
Success should never come at the expense of your happiness or well-being.
4. A good night of sleep can cure almost everything.
Coming down with a cold? Sleep. Overworked? Sleep. Drama? Yep… sleep it off! Almost anything that ails you can be fixed with a solid eight hours; at the end of the day, is your health really worth another episode of “How To Get Away With Murder.”
5. Give yourself a break.
Take a mental health day every once in a while. (No… this is not the same as playing hooky…) Sleep until 10. Trade your contacts for your glasses. Watch that movie you’ve had your eye on. This is your day to treat yourself.
6. Don't do something just because you think it will look good on a college application.
It sounds cliché, but schools really do want to see you pursuing whatever classes and extracurricular activities interest YOU. There is no mold of what the perfect candidate looks like; it’s up to you to mold yourself into the person you want to be.
7. You are not what other people think of you.
This is a big one, and incredibly difficult to learn. Like it or not, what our peers think of us often inform how we think of ourselves. When you learn to let go of opinions and expectations that are not your own, it’s incredibly liberating. Be who you are and never, ever apologize for it.