You've heard it before and you'll hear it again: college may be the most exciting time of your life. But, it's also a new experience that requires some guidelines. Here are just a few, as discovered through first semester:
1. Forget high school drama but don't forget your friends.
It's easy to live in the past, but try to move forward and use this time to grow. Your high school experiences don't have to define you, and you can reinvent yourself if you want to. But, stay in touch with your besties—trust me, sometimes you need to talk to the people who know your history (filling new friends in on old stuff can be draining), and if you go too long without talking, it may take a toll on you (same goes for your favorite teachers).
2. Don't shy away from making new friends.
It's important to find a balance between talking to your besties from home and making conversations with new people. Don't be afraid to reach out to different friend groups either; it's more fun to be friends with a bunch of different people with different interests. Bonus tip: It's going to take a little longer than a couple of months to solidify new friendships—don't let this discourage you.
3. Be productive during all of your new free time.
Going from crazy-long school days to a less-structured schedule can persuade one to slack off a little...totally not speaking from experience or anything... Fill up your time by snagging an internship or doing the suggested readings for that one class (trust me, they actually do help).
4. But also give yourself some you time.
This includes Netflix marathons and 3 hour-long FaceTime talks with your mom. You deserve it.
5. Get to work, but not too often.
Get a job. You need to get used to it and improve your time-management skills anyway. But, don't work all the time. You're going to college to get an education...the career part comes later.
6. Explore your options.
If you have some extra credit hours, take that class that sounds interesting but has nothing to do with your major. I did, and it was actually my favorite class. You may gain a lot from it, and you may even realize that you'd like to change your field of interest (which isn't a bad thing).
7. Don't let finances discourage you.
Have a night out on the town with your squad or go on that alternative break. You'll only regret it if you don't, and you can figure out financial plans later (holla @ gofundme). Plus, these cool experiences keep your Insta game A1.
8. Make the most of what you've got.
Ok, so you may not be at your dream school. Your dorm room may be smaller than it looked in the pictures. That's okay! You're a go-getter who can make success happen, no matter where you are. This experience will only serve to prove that.
9. Don't spend too much time in front of the mirror.
Seriously, stop criticizing yourself—ain't nobody got time for dat anymore. From now on, stop focusing on that zit and focus instead on being a boss-ass bitch. You're awesome, now go show it.
10. And, most importantly, PURSUE YOUR PASSIONS.
Don't use your first semester to "adjust." That's just an excuse to be lazy. Shake off the uncertainty and go after your dreams. Create that blog, launch that Kickstarter, start that YouTube channel. Life is short, and college is shorter; don't waste this experience or your talent. Be confident in yourself and in your goals, and go get what you want out of life. You've got this!
