1. Don’t try to look cute on move in day.
This day tends to be on one of the hottest days of August and lugging boxes and bags and mini-fridges up many flights of stairs in that cute new tank top and denim shorts just doesn’t work out. Make sure you have an outfit ready to change into after moving in because you will likely be drenched in sweat and other room-related filth. You can dress to impress later.
2. Your body adjusts to walking 10+ miles a day very quickly.
Like scary quickly. I didn’t know my legs were capable of that kind of physical activity. After a weekend, I was trekking around campus with ease. With this I discovered that my iPhone’s Health app records data without my knowledge, and seeing that I climb an average of forty flights of stairs a day was both horrifying and satisfying. Along with that,
3. You will get tanner from walking around a college campus for a week than you did all summer.
I don’t care how many days you spent at the beach June, July, and August. I didn’t even know the first weekend of September could have comparable amounts of sunshine to those lazy summer days. But having to walk literally everywhere all day ends up giving you a pretty good amount of color.
4. Never look at the ceiling of your shower.
I am so serious about this one. I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t share this vital piece of information. I cannot be the only person that has ever glanced up in the shower, but you can’t in college. Unless you want nightmares. Look at anything else, stare straight ahead or read the shampoo label while washing, rinsing, and repeating. Anything but up.
5. You are going to stop caring what people think of you really quickly.
I leave my room on a daily basis with my hair frazzled, frumpy pajamas on, facemask, no bra, and retainer in. The bathroom is down the hall and this is your home now, you learn to accept that really quickly. Everyone on your floor and in your building is in the same boat. Yes, this is a minor inconvenience if you’re on a co-ed floor, but, if you’re in the market for a guy, just remember that if they can’t handle you pre-8 AM they probably don’t deserve you at your Friday night best.
6. Likewise, you and your roommate are going to see each other naked.
You live together now. You’re both girls or guys. None of that equipment should be new to anyone. This is their room too, it’s a shared space, so you end up sharing everything. It might be weird at first, you might be shy, but eventually you are going to be running late for that first class of the morning and you don’t have time to be embarrassed anymore. And it’s not like anyone is staring, you both just go about your business. Just own it and be confident.
7. You and your roommate don’t have to be best friends.
You guys just need to be able to live together, tolerate each other, and respect each other’s space. You share a dorm but not always the same likes/dislikes/personalities. Yes, it’s nice if you have an instant bond and spend time together, but no one wants to spend all day everyday with the person you’re living with. It’s better if you both have individual interests and friends, so you both get some much needed time alone.
8. You won’t always make friends right away.
You can’t force friendship. Don’t expect to have a new group of besties after three days. There are so many things to try and to get involved in at school, don’t rush into relationships just because it seems like you’re supposed to. Join things, participate, show up to class and soon enough you’ll meet people with similar interests that you really mesh well with.
9. You see weird, unexpected s*** everyday.
The first week of college I have seen a guy riding a unicycle, someone juggling while walking to college, someone selling home-made ice pops out of the back of his scooter, bodily fluids, many doppelgangers, a boy skateboarding down my hall. You just kind of come to expect it and tune it out. College is a whole new community of people, rich with diversity and it’s kind of cool to be exposed to all of it.
10. You can go home the first weekend.
No one is going to shame you for being a little homesick after a week. Lots of people end up going back home that first weekend after move-in. Many people realize they needed to bring a few more things or need a night in a familiar place. It’s also super common to get sick during the first few days of school because your immune system needs to adjust to a new environment, so lot’s of students end up going home for not only a mental health day but for a physical health day. If you live close enough and have a means of getting home, go for it. It’s not deplorable in any way. And don’t worry about missing out on any fun weekend stuff at college; you have four years to do it all.
11. Sometimes the independence is overwhelming.
Suddenly you're just plopped down in this university town and your parents leave: what do you do next? That routine schedule of high school is gone. My dad gave me a great piece of advice, take your time figuring it out and make good decisions. This is your home now and it's what you make of it, so get involved and have fun and, most importantly, as Dad said, "Learn everything!"
