The summer before my freshman year of college, I had such high expectations. I knew that I would make friends, but I didn't think they would become family. I thought I was going to go out every single weekend. I had next to zero idea where anything was. I thought I was going to meet the love of my life. Of course, almost none of the things I had hopes for actually came true.
1. Where all the buildings were. The first night of my freshman year I ended up getting completely lost for almost an hour, and I go to a pretty small campus. Of course, the first thing I did is call my roommate and beg her to help me, but because my luck sucks, my phone ended up dying. So any new incoming college students, please take plenty of tours of your campus, take a campus map with you, go with a friend who knows their way around so you don't freak out and cry like I did.
2. You are not going to still be close to your friends from high school. College, as I've realized, is the time for change in, not just your life, but also your friends from back home. You no longer live with in at least a half hour drive from each other. You don't get to see them on a daily basis. Putting in that effort that was once easy, is now a lot of work. Sure, when you come home, you can still attempt to see them. Either you can lose these friends completely, or they will be the people you once knew.
3. Do not skip class. Mom isn't watching your every move anymore. You are no longer forced to go to your classes. So skipping classes seems like a great idea. Wrong. I failed three classes during my freshman year because I did not go to classes enough. Not only does going to class help your grade, but it allows your professor to know you actually care.
4. Nobody cares what you wear to class. If you are purposely dressing up to impress that cute boy in your English class, stop. Chances are he probably doesn't care ,or he's got a girlfriend back home. Either way, the only person you should even bother impressing is yourself.
5. Going out. Before I came to college, I thought I was going to be that girl who went out every single weekend. The only time I went out was move-in day and it really wasn't all that exciting. What was more exciting, was when I was going out with people who mattered, and waking up remembering what happened, knowing I was safe.
6. Get involved. Just because you go to class, doesn't mean you are involved with your campus. Join a student organization, join a sorority or fraternity, join a club, go to your floor, building or campus program. They look dorky on the outside, but they can be tons of fun on the inside.
7. Study, study, study. Your tests are, obviously, important. I never was good at school and I used to get away with not studying. When I came to college, I realized that studying is extremely important or you will not pass. I ended up failing a class because I couldn't pass the exams. Form studying habits as soon as possible so when the final comes, you don't feel so stressed.
8. You are not going to meet the love of you life right away. You may or may not meet the person who you end up growing old with while you are in college. If you do, awesome. If not, it's not the end of the world. I thought I was going to meet my soulmate my first semester of college, then second semester came along and I still haven't found my Prince Charming. But that's okay because I know one day I will find him.
9. Appreciate everything. I still think yesterday was my first time moving into a dorm. I was so excited for the upcoming school year for new experiences and new friends, but the next thing I knew, the friends I made first semester, weren't my shoulders to cry on when I was leaving at the end of second semester. College is supposed to be the best four years of your life. Get involved, make friends, do something stupid, make mistakes, cry, but don't let it fly by doing absolutely nothing.
