Freshman year is a glorious time. It is the first stepping stone to adulthood, full of memories and experiences that you are sure to remember and fondly reminiscence about when you're old and grey. However, before we get to the blissful reminiscing, we need to get through the experience part. Here goes 12 things you definitely need to do in order to complete your freshman year bucket list:
1. Go to your orientation!
Fair warning: Your orientation will probably be lame as you imagine it to be. My orientation was filled with awkward moments and wishing I could go back to my room already, but it also ends up been the perfect icebreaker for when you moan with other people in a little competition to see who had the lamer orientation weekend. You lose a little, you win a lot of banter points.
2. Homecoming
Homecoming is basically prom's second oft-neglected cousin. It doesn't have that same big nostalgic moment or the fantasy dress ideals, but the after party's are still great. Tag-along with a few friends and see if you can score free candyfloss at the homecoming fair or better yet, a cheeky beer from one of the frat houses.
3. Tailgating
The internet dictionary defines tailgating as to "host or attend a social gathering at which an informal meal is served from the back of a parked vehicle, typically in the parking lot of a sports stadium." If that definition doesn't spur you on, then frankly I don't know what will. You need to go, not only is it the pinnacle of the American college freshman, but also two words : hot dogs. If you're not a foodie like me, then there might be some hot boys there too. It depends on what you like.
4. Attend A College Football Game
You don't have to be a football fan. You don't even have to understand whats going on, all you need to know is hot sweaty men in tights running around a giant field for a few a hours.
5. Attend A Frat Party
Frat parties are one of the experiences that you might not all together remember *ahem*, but it is one of those things that you just have to do. I can't really explain why, just go to one and you'll will know exactly what I mean *Dr. Strange voice*.
6. Spring Break
Someone once told me that you couldn't have a 'proper' spring break in your freshman break, and to those people I bid them a royal bleurgh. I mean, come on, when is it ever a bad time for beaches, parties and cute boys? I thought so.
7. Attend A Sorority/Fraternity Interest Party
You don't have to necessarily pledge, but it couldn't hurt to go and see what it has in store for you. I have heard so many stories about people who just went out of curiosity and ending up finding their 'place' in college. You never know, that could be you.
8. Attend Your School's Activities Fair
This sounds obvious, but you will be surprised at how many people skip this out. Get involved on campus. Broaden your horizons. Get out of your room. Get your head out of the textbooks for a while and meet new people. Your grades are important, granted, but that shouldn't be all that defines you. Even employers want well rounded individuals to work for them, so pick an activity that sounds interesting and throw yourself into it. If it turns out to be super lame, pick a different one and lets try this whole roller coaster again.
9. Make Sure You Know Where The Library Is
It will shock you how many upperclassman I have heard say they have never been to the library. The library is a place of sanctitude for book nerds, and for those who need a quiet place to study alike. Go to the library, walk around, touch some books. Just make sure you know where it is.
10. Eat In The Dining Hall A Few Times
The food is crap. The dining hall is the one thing in college that is guaranteed to instantly make you homesick. Your mom's cooking is a 1000 times better, and every time you go there you discover another uncooked item, but it is also one of the only places you and your friends can chill for a while before you have too slink back to the books, so cherish these moments.
11. Take A Subject Out Of Your Comfort Zone
If you're a science person, take a humanities course. If you have a deep-rooted passion for social sciences, challenge yourself with a statistics class. The great thing about college is that it is literally an oyster for learning, so jump in and learn all these new and wonderful things that you might not get the chance to do when when you're bogged down with the responsibilities of the real world. College is about trying new things. Yes, it was probably awful in high school, but you never know what you might fall in love, or you could get the enlightening confirmation that you need that physics is as terrible as you think it may be.
12 Explore Your College 'Town'
This is technically your home now so why not make the best out of it? I encourage you to go out and see the sites. Visit the mall, explore museums, check out a tourist destination (trust me, every town in America has one) and learn something new about your College area, this is probably one of the few things that won't completely suck.
