Freshmen year was a time to make mistakes and grow from them. It was a rollercoaster ride to say the least. There were ups and there were downs, over and over again. Halfway through, I often thought, “Man, this was a mistake” or “Why did I decide to ride this ride?” But by the time I reached the end, it left me wanting more and now I can’t wait to ride the college rollercoaster again this coming August.
Throughout the year I learned many things, but most importantly I learned:
1. Don't procrastinate
Putting off studying is never the best answer. You will regret every second of cramming. Believe me, you do not want to be the person sitting outside of the classroom five minutes before a test trying to teach yourself four weeks worth of material you should’ve started reviewing two weeks prior.
2. Don’t expect to get an ‘A’ if you didn’t study
If you’re the type of person who can ace anything without even turning a page in your book, well, lucky you. As for the rest of us, this is never a good idea. Don’t be the cocky student who thinks they can get a 100 percent on an exam just because they were a straight ‘A’ student in high school. College is in a completely different ballpark than all of your high school classes. Take every test seriously and study. Your professors will only help you if you help yourself. Show that you care about your grades and classwork, and it will pay off tremendously.3. Call home every chance you get
I can’t even begin to describe how important it is to call home as often as possible. You are your parents’ prize possession, and they want to know everything that is going on while you are embarking on this new journey. Let them be a part of your college experience, even if it is only through stories. Seeing your name pop up on their phone is heaven for them. They are the ones that support you no matter what, so brag to them about your accomplishments and laugh with them about your mishaps.4. Give your pets as much love as possible while you are home
While away at college, you are going to miss your pets more than any people in your life. Give them as much attention as you can while you are still home. You will be begging for days when you could just sit at home petting your dog. Also, don’t be embarrassed to FaceTime your pets. It’s not weird; I do it all the time.