40 Things I Learned During My First Semester of College | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Education

40 Things I Learned During My First Semester of College

"A university is just a group of buildings gathered around a library." - Shelby Foote

21
40 Things I Learned During My First Semester of College

In This Article:

1. College is not like it is in movies

2. …. Sometimes it is though

3. Coffee is NOT a necessity (at least for me it wasn't)

4. It's nice that everything you need is either in walking distance or by taking a bus

5. Not every friend you make is going to last

6. You do not, I repeat DO NOT have to party 24/7 to have fun

7. But you can always go to another party, you can't always retake a test so get your priorities straight

8. Time management is key

9. Extracurricular activities are the perfect way to relieve stress

10. Make a schedule for your cleaning habits

11. Washing those few dishes that are piling up on your desk is an amazing feeling

12. Along with making your bed (which is now my favorite thing to do as a college student #adulting)

13. Dorm decor is a necessity to feel at home

14. College professors are not as scary as you think

15. In fact, they're going to be your best friends so be sure to have a good relationship with them

16. Your academic advisor does not have all the answers

17. You will waste money on a book that you will only look at once

18. But thankfully, you can sell them

19. DO NOT be afraid to call someone from home (mom, dad, sibling, friend, etc.) if you feel alone

20. Time will fly so enjoy every moment

21. You will miss home cooked meals

22. And probably miss home itself more than you think

23. Take care of your physical health to prevent getting sick like everyone around you

24. Sunday scaries are REAL

25. Honestly nobody cares if you eat alone

26. I'm going to tell you right now you will have mental breakdowns, multiple times

27. You should always have a secret chocolate stash in your desk or sock drawer

28. You will need to find the perfect study spot because it is key and will help you so much

29. You should also find somewhere you can escape to when you need to be alone

30. You will thank yourself for going out of your comfort zone

31. Literally nobody cares if you dress like you just rolled out of bed because lets be real everyone did

32. But don't forget, dressing nice can boost your confidence on an important day

33. You will not immediately make your best friends

34. You will feel pretty lonely at first, but so will almost everyone else

35. Not everyone around you is as happy as they appear so please make sure you're checking up on your friends and peers

36. Your freshman year, especially the first semester is the time to take (academic) risks

37. Don't be afraid to try again, this is the perfect place and time in your life to make mistakes

38. It's okay to take a break, everybody needs a chance to recharge

39. You get what you give, so take the opportunities you're given

40. In the end, know you've made the right choice if you start calling this place HOME

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
ross geller
YouTube

As college students, we are all familiar with the horror show that is course registration week. Whether you are an incoming freshman or selecting classes for your last semester, I am certain that you can relate to how traumatic this can be.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

Bonus points if it is more than two.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

12 Things I Learned my Freshmen Year of College

When your capability of "adulting" is put to the test

2904
friends

Whether you're commuting or dorming, your first year of college is a huge adjustment. The transition from living with parents to being on my own was an experience I couldn't have even imagined- both a good and a bad thing. Here's a personal archive of a few of the things I learned after going away for the first time.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Economic Benefits of Higher Wages

Nobody deserves to be living in poverty.

301997
Illistrated image of people crowded with banners to support a cause
StableDiffusion

Raising the minimum wage to a livable wage would not only benefit workers and their families, it would also have positive impacts on the economy and society. Studies have shown that by increasing the minimum wage, poverty and inequality can be reduced by enabling workers to meet their basic needs and reducing income disparities.

I come from a low-income family. A family, like many others in the United States, which has lived paycheck to paycheck. My family and other families in my community have been trying to make ends meet by living on the minimum wage. We are proof that it doesn't work.

Keep Reading...Show less
blank paper
Allena Tapia

As an English Major in college, I have a lot of writing and especially creative writing pieces that I work on throughout the semester and sometimes, I'll find it hard to get the motivation to type a few pages and the thought process that goes behind it. These are eleven thoughts that I have as a writer while writing my stories.

Keep Reading...Show less
April Ludgate

Every college student knows and understands the struggle of forcing themselves to continue to care about school. Between the piles of homework, the hours of studying and the painfully long lectures, the desire to dropout is something that is constantly weighing on each and every one of us, but the glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel helps to keep us motivated. While we are somehow managing to stay enrolled and (semi) alert, that does not mean that our inner-demons aren't telling us otherwise, and who is better to explain inner-demons than the beloved April Ludgate herself? Because of her dark-spirit and lack of filter, April has successfully been able to describe the emotional roller-coaster that is college on at least 13 different occasions and here they are.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments