9 Lessons This College Girl Will Take Home With Her After Year Number 1 | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

9 Lessons This College Girl Will Take Home With Her After Year Number 1

It's okay to miss home.

75
9 Lessons This College Girl Will Take Home With Her After Year Number 1
Rebecca Peterson

The end of the semester is so close I can almost taste it.

Somehow nearly 10 months have gone by since I packed up all of my belongings, said goodbye to my family, and moved into a teeny tiny shoe box that the University somehow manages to charge an arm and a leg for. In some ways, it feels like just yesterday. In other ways, it feels like an eternity ago. I'm not the same person I was 10 months ago.

I've learned hundreds of lessons in my first year away from home, but since I have 5 research papers lingering on my to-do-list, I'm going to keep this short and sweet.

1. You're going to miss home. A lot...

And that's okay. It doesn't make you weird to feel homesick. Deep down, nearly everyone misses home at some point during their first year at college. If they tell you otherwise, they're probably lying. So go home for the weekend when you get the chance. Face Time your family. And ask your mom to send you a picture of your dog. every. single. day.

2. It's okay to ask for help

College is hard. Everyone gives you advice and your high school teachers try to prepare you, but there's no one and nothing that can you prepare you for what college is really like. Some professors have no mercy. You will stay up all night studying for an exam that you'll be lucky to get a B- on. Your emotional and mental health will take a hit. College IS hard. That's why it's completely okay to ask for help. Go to tutoring. Go to the counseling services on campus. Meet with a professor during their office hours... Swallow your pride and use your resources.

3. Some days will really get you down

It's okay to have a bad day. You're going to get a bad exam grade at some point. You're going to be disappointed in yourself over something that won't matter in 3 weeks. Your hairdryer is going to go out on a morning that you woke up late and you're going to have to go to class with wet hair (not that this happened to me this week). Your friend will say something that makes you mad. You professor will criticize something you worked really hard on... There will be bad days. And they will make you really thankful for the good ones.

4. Don't judge a book by its cover, behind a person with colored hair, often lies someone with a golden heart

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. You will see people in college who look very different from anyone you have ever seen. But just because they look and/or dress different, doesn't mean they aren't a good person. Get to know someone before you slap weirdo across their forehead.

5. When in doubt, call your mom.

She may not be near by, but the sound of her voice will make everything in your world feel just a little bit better. She will give you the best advice. She will agree with most everything you say (note the word most). She will let you cry and scream and pout. She's the best. And you will find yourself calling her more days than not to get everything off your chest.

6. Never let anyone trick you into believing that your major is stupid.

Find what you love to do... And go after it. Your major isn't meant to impress anyone but yourself. You are the one standing in your shoes, do what you want. At the end of the day, the opinions of others doesn't count for a whole lot. Life is so much more than people pleasing.

7. Challenge what you believe. But don't let others convince you into believing something without searching your heart and doing your research

There's going to be a lot of opportunities for you to challenge your beliefs, morals, mindsets, and viewpoints. College is a time for change. But for the love... Don't believe everything every professor or friend tells you. Do your research. Think about why you believe what you do. Never believe something because it's what you were told. Challenge yourself, but don't forget what beliefs got you to where you are today.

8. Eat the ice cream

You're going to regret a lot of things in your first year of college. But one thing is for sure, you will never regret eating the ice cream. Trust me on this one, just eat it.

9. Time goes way. too. fast.

The days are long but the years are. so. so. so. short. There might be a lot of stressful moments... But there's a lot of really good ones too. Focus on the good and don't rush it by any faster than it will already go. I'm a year from graduation and I already know that I'm gonna miss these mundane days.


For anyone reading this who is months away from moving away from home for the first time, into a teeny tiny college dorm, take note of the lessons learned by a college student who was just as clueless and naive as you are right now... You are about to enter a journey of a lot of ups and downs. But believe me when I tell you this, there are a lot more ups than downs if you stay open minded, surround yourself with people who care about you, go home when you can (trust me, it's good for you), and EAT THE ICE CREAM.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
an image of taylor swift standing center stage surrounded by her backup dancers in elegant peacock esque outfits with a backdrop of clouds and a box rising above the stage the image captures the vibrant aesthetics and energy of her performance during the lover era of her eras tour
StableDiffusion

A three-and-a-half-hour runtime. Nine Eras. Eleven outfit changes. Three surprise songs. Zero breaks. One unforgettable evening. In the past century, no other performer has put on an electric performance quite like Taylor Swift, surpassing her fans ‘wildest dreams’. It is the reason supporters keep coming back to her shows each year. Days later, I’m still in awe of the spectacle ‘Miss Americana’ puts on every few days in a new city. And, like one of Taylor’s exes, has me smiling as I reminisce about the memories of the night we spent together.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

79896
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

8368
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments