I've been in college for two weeks. I know, I know, who am I to tell you what college is like? Believe me, as many articles as there are with titles like, "25 Things I Wish I Knew My Freshman Year" or "15 Things I Learned In My College Experience" none of them truly cover the genuine confusion and emotion of your first week as a college student. The fear, excitement, and sadness is not addressed often enough and I came in totally lost, and even more unprepared. So, I've created my own list: The ten things I wish someone told me about my first week of college.
1. You will cry...a lot.
This isn't the case for everybody, some people are eager to forget their past and just get going. But, for me at least, I missed my mom, my dad, my five younger siblings, my job, my church, my friends I left behind, even the people I didn't particularly like I missed. Hugging my mom goodbye was the hardest part, my mom is a tough cookie. She never cries but I think maybe, just maybe she was crying that day, or she was just in pain cause I hugged her so tight. It's okay to cry, it's okay to call your mom five times a day (I'm on my fourth call today), but it's also okay to be okay. Everyone else misses someone back home, it does get better. Give it a second, it's a new adventure.
2. Move In Day Is The Worst Thing EVER
My move in day experience was far from fun. I am living in LaFollette Complex, an all freshman hall, and it was atrocious. No one knew where to go, what to do, or how to do it. About probably 3,000-5,000 freshman were trying to move into their rooms and there is NO AIR CONDITIONING. It was insanely hot and insanely awful. I was angry at the world, snapping at everyone and everything. Not to mention the elevator only goes up to the sixth floor, I live on the seventh floor. So, we had to load everything onto a cart, get on the elevator, get everything off the cart, and then carry it up the stairs. My point, expect the worst on move in day. That's all.
3. You will forget stuff, but it's ok.
I spent my last month before college scrambling to make sure I had everything I needed. I made three separate list, triple checked those list, kept everything together, and I still didn't remember everything. I, for example, forgot toothpaste. TOOTHPASTE. A basic necessity to be a clean human being and I forgot it. I remembered to buy all my decorations but failed to remember a basic toiletry. I cried when I discovered my error, but then I remembered that I'm not on the moon, and there's a Walmart just down the road. Don't freak out, it's fixable.
4. You will have too much free time.
All I heard in the weeks coming up to college is, "Savor this free time while you have it. It won't last long." I am now into my college experience, I have homework, I have papers due, and somehow I still have time to write this and after this I'll probably binge watch a whole series on Netflix and ALL MY HOMEWORK WILL STILL BE DONE. When people say college means surrendering any free time you currently have, they literally must have 21 credit hours or something because I currently have 15 and last night I drew a face on my hand and made videos of it singing, yeah, that's how boring college life is.
5. College parties are not like in movies.
I went to my first college party last weekend. Let me run you through this night. My roommate and our other friend decided we wanted to try it out. So, we walk in the front door of this house ok, and they have a disco ball hanging from the ceiling, my friends and I are just standing the corner like, "What are we doing?" and somewhere in the middle of the craziness the disco ball falls of the freaking ceiling. One of the guys who owns the house spends the next twenty minutes trying to reattach it to the ceiling, he finally gives up and decides to just stand in the middle of the room, holding it up...literally this actually happened. We only stayed for about ten more minutes and all it consisted of was sweaty, intoxicated people crowding together and dancing super awkwardly. That's right kids. Pitch Perfect? Not realistic.
6. The "Freshman Fifteen" is very real.
Now, I'm not implying that I have gained fifteen pounds in two weeks, but I can see doing it before the end of the school year. If you go back to number four, you have endless free time so what are most people doing in that free time? EATING. Anywhere from microwave mac & cheese to cold pizza from two nights before, you will eat it, and you will love it. Don't try to worry about it to much, but maybe join a club or two to occupy your time. Not sure that'll really help though cause they all give out free food. :-)
7. The fear of sexual assault is very real.
On a more serious note, I had been at college for one week before we had our first sexual assault occur on campus. There's not much to say on this that hasn't already been said but it's a constant warning we receive as college students to be careful. The threat is real, and it's terrifying. So just be safe, walk with friends, but don't stop having a good time.
8. Your professors do care.
One thing I had always been told about the transition from high school to college was the difference of teachers and professors. I've always been warned that teachers in high school care more about you then your college professors will. This so far has been proven completely untrue. My professors have openly announced that if we have any personal issues to come to them and they will do everything in their power to help. If you are struggling with any assignment, come to them, and they'll consider giving you an extension. They're not scary, unless you call the Mr or Mrs when they are technically a Dr. Then all hell breaks loose.
9. You will miss your siblings. I mean it.
I never thought the day would come when I would say this but, here it goes. I miss all my siblings. All five of them. Even though they annoy me to no end I miss that. I miss them walking into the doorway of my room, telling them to get out, and then them standing just outside the door and saying, "I'm not REALLY in your room." I miss the screaming, the chaos, the hectic rush of loading eight people in a car. I miss sharing a room with my messy thirteen year old sister. You will too, trust me.
10. College really is as great as it sounds.
As much as this article is about the struggles of transitioning from being at home to moving away, college really is amazing. It's hard work, scary, fun, exciting, sad, confusing, and the experience of a lifetime all in one. Sure, the parties aren't as "cool" as they are on TV, but still go, have a good time. You will miss your friends, but you'll make new ones. It will be hard work, but thats what you have to do to achieve success. Work hard, make friends, call home, and have the time of your life.
