Well, I have completed my freshman year of college, and I have learned a few things in the process, and I figured I ought to share. While these are not all the lessons I have learned, here are a few of the more important things I have learned from the best year of my life.
Go in Positive
So, you didn't end up at your first choice college. Neither did I! But after one year, I know I'm where I was meant to be. If you go into your college career thinking about how much you wish you were somewhere else, how can you expect to have any fun? This is not to say that you have to stay wherever you end up your freshman year, if you give yourself a semester (and yes, I'd say a semester at
minimum) and you still don't like where you are, or if you realize it's not where you want to be, that's perfectly fine! Transfer! Don't make yourself miserable! But if you're only miserable because you have some pre-meditated idea of what college
should be, you aren't doing yourself any favors!
Essentially,
that which is for you will not pass you by. So make the most of it!
High School is NOT the End-All Be-All of Even Your Young Life
Okay, so while you were in high school you felt that if you weren't Student Council President all the world would come crashing down on you, that your B+ in Bio would be the death of any future you hoped to have. You felt like you didn't fit in and straight up disliked most of the people you went to school with.
None of that matters, really. Not once you're in college. You meet new people, you make new friends, or, if you're like me, you go to school where no one from your high school has ever gone. But even my roommate, who went in state to the school where most of the people from her town went to college, still made brand new friends and doesn't hang out with the same group she did from high school.
Sure, I have friends who both go to school in the same city and still make sure to see each other on the reg, but that's
your choice. You don't want to remember high school? You really don't have to. That's the magic of starting over new.
Rush!
Easily the best decision I have made in my short college career was joining my sorority. While, yes, Panhellenic Formal Recruitment was a week of hell and, I'll be honest! I didn't end up in my top choice sorority. But knowing what I know now, I ended up
exactly where I needed to be!
Trust the Recruitment System. Sure, it may seem crazy, but that complicated computer program
totally knows what it's doing.
Granted, Greek life isn't for everyone, but if you're even the
least bit curious, give it a shot! It can't hurt to rush, and you just might find wonderful lifelong sisters (or brothers), and even bridesmaids (like I certainly have).
Your Friends Will Evolve
The friends you make your first week won't necessarily be the crew you hang out with for your entire college career. I did meet some of my absolute best friends in the whole wide world in the first week, and my future roommate lived just down the hall from me, but some of the people I hung out with on a daily basis at the beginning of the year are people I now actively avoid. And that's okay! Friendships evolve! And when you're living in extremely tight quarters, like a dorm, they evolve a lot faster than they did when you returned home after an 8 hour day at school.
College is a Lot Harder than High School
I'm not trying to brag, but I was virtually a straight-A student in high school and I was incredibly involved, holding officer positions in both Student Council and the National Honors Society, and I was a Theatre major! I spend plenty of time working on shows! I was never home, and I never studied. But I still did really well on just about every test, and project, and essay. If you're anything like I was, you probably think you can just ride through college the same way.
You are DEAD wrong.
College takes a lot more time. You
need to read everything
on time, start your projects ahead of time,
study more than you think you need to, and
maybe you'll get an A. Most of the time? Probably a B. Because college professors tend to actually subscribe to the idea that A is exceptional, B is above average, and C is average, as opposed to high school where a C was essentially a failing grade according to your counselor.
Don't Get Over Involved
You'll want to sign up for everything, I know I did! But don't. Just sign up for what actually interests you! Sign up for activities and clubs related to your major, or related to your faith, or political persuasion. But don't join or apply for things just to join, think about what you're committing your time to and really whittle your activities down. You'll thank me later.
It's Okay to Change Your Major!
Sure, I've known exactly what I've wanted to do with the rest of my life since I was about 3 years old, but that's far from normal. Many of my friends have changed their majors, sometimes multiple times, because they think they like something until they start taking the more advanced classes. Or sometimes you learn about an opportunity you never even realized existed! On that note...
It's Okay to Come in Undeclared!
Lots and lots of people come in to college undeclared, including my absolute best friend, and there is no reason to be ashamed. There are
so many majors and
so many opportunities that you might not have ever known about before coming to college, so if you're unsure of what you want to do, why bother pigeon-holing yourself?
There's More to College Than Grades
I'm not saying grades aren't important, because they are. And believe me, you realize just how important when they tank, but it's important to remember that college is your first time being a (semi) independent adult! And lets be honest, what are you going to remember about college? How much time you spent studying to get that A, or how much fun you had that time you went out your friends for late night nachos? Of course, there's a balance to be had, and it might take a while to figure that out, but it's important to keep in mind that your personal success is such a small part of your life when you think about your relationships to others!
So go out, make new friends, embarrass yourself over that kid you have a crush on, and stay up until 3am on a school night watching movies with friends. Those are the most important college experiences.
Always Be There For Your Friends
This should speak for itself, and it's something I think we all know deep down, but it's important to remember. Whether they're crying over a crush, having the time of their life, or had too much to drink, it's your job to wipe their tears, celebrate, and hold their hair. That's what friends are for. And if they aren't there for you through all of this, how good of a friend are they, really?
and, finally,
Freshman Year is the Year to F' Up
Ever wanted to try ditching a class? Freshman year is the time to do it! Wanted to see how much you can drink before you vomit? "Freshman! Freshman! Kegstand! Kegstand!" Curious about a DFMO? Freshman year!
Be young! Be wild! You can't do these things at 25 without seeming lame! So kiss lots of people, wear that revealing outfit, sleep in on your birthday! Of course, stay safe, but if you're going to f' up, freshman year is the prime time to do it, because how responsible does anyone really expect an 18 or 19 year old to be?
