Taylor University, located in Upland, Indiana, has a lot of culture on campus that might seem a little strange to a newbie, especially one who is taken aback by the random carousel horses on the fence on the back road that leads to Taylor. However, there are a few key pieces of information all incoming freshmen can fasten in their survival utility belt in order to have semi-smooth sailing through their first few months in this wonderful place.

1. Taylor students have a problem with over commitment.

Taylor students are known for drinking lots of coffee, staying up until all hours, and filling up their calendar as soon as they step foot on campus. BE CAREFUL. As a freshman, it is highly tempting to sign up for everything possible; however, if you do that, you will die. You literally will die because there are so many wonderful things to be a part of at Taylor -- too many to count. Make sure you get your bearings, connect with people on your wing, and take baby steps to being a part of different activities. I personally got really, really, really sick my freshman year, and part of the reason was because of my crazy schedule. Work on developing a plan, and you should stay afloat. Also, get some sleep.

2. Pick-a-dates are not as scary as they may seem.

Basically, pick-a-dates should be called pick-a-group. You are going with a group of people to participate in an activity. You probably won’t be alone with your “date” for very long, so don’t freak out. Ask someone you are good friends with or someone you don’t know at all. It’s chill -- be chill. Don’t make things awkward, because pick-a-dates are meant to be fun, not awkward. Everybody knows that things are only awkward when you make them awkward.

3. Go to chapel.

Taylor is one of the few schools that does not require their students to attend chapel. People at Taylor fill the seats three times a week because they want to be there. Chapel is a wonderful time to connect with the campus and to learn and grow in community. Chapel has been life-changing for some people, and for some, it is just a good place to find discussion topics with friends. People from all over the world come to speak, so don’t miss out. When I was a freshman, Phil Vischer, the guy who invented Veggietales spoke -- it was amazing. That story really changed my life, and it was within the first few months of school. Go to chapel.

4. Follow the LTC.

This may sound like a sermon, but in true community, there is freedom and security in commitment. The LTC, for those of you who don’t know, is the Life Together Covenant. Nowhere in my life have I experience community like I have at Taylor University. Many people agree, and while “agreeing to not engage in certain behaviors” sounds like a lame, boring waste of time, it’s truly so rewarding and is so full of accountability. It’s honestly not terribly strict at all. People, from freshmen to seniors, can exist in an accountable community that is focused on growing and encouraging one another. Sometimes we even chant “LTC” at Silent Night (our nation-famous basketball game -- check out ESPN).

5. Know that no one has everything figured out.

There is an enormous amount of pressure for young adults, especially college students on a Christian campus, to look like they have everything together. Just stop. One beautiful thing I learned at Taylor is that no one has it all together -- in fact, everyone is going through something. That is true of everyone in the world. The people who have sparkly rings on their left hand, they don’t have everything together. People who get asked on the most pick-a-dates don’t have it all together. The staff doesn’t have it all together. We make mistakes, and we are all going through, or struggling, with something -- no matter how big or small. Treat others well with that in mind. Learn how to be vulnerable when it is appropriate to let other people know that you don’t have it together either.

There are so many more lessons I could tell freshmen, like be careful when it snows, because you may slip down that huge hill by English Hall. I could tell you to not eat Chick-fil-A every day at the student center. However, these are the top five I would suggest all incoming freshmen read, and I hope they all learn to take the Towel seriously. Wash each other’s feet. Live together in a way that is joy-filled and glorifying to the Lord. Take a hold of opportunities.

Being a Taylor student is a lot of things. Being a Taylor student is an opportunity that I am so glad I took a hold of so I may continue learning to live together well.