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23 Pieces Of Advice For UVA '23

Enjoy your first year; it's going to be amazing!

Casey_Clarke

May 07, 2019

University of Virginia

240

Emma Kim

Here, I was going to figure out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It was such an incredible time getting to meet new people and make new friends. Throughout all of those emotions, I made some mistakes, reflected a lot, and discovered a lot of things about myself and college, although I wished that I had had some of these revelations before college.

Here are 23 things that I have learned throughout my first year at UVA and want to pass onto the class of 2023.

1. If you have a particular career/major in mind, be sure to plan some classes around it

While it is still great to explore new interests, some career paths require a lot of classes to complete, so it helps to get some out of the way your first-year.

2. Try new things

If a club or something relatively interests you, try it. You may discover a new passion.

3. Don’t be afraid of rejection

4. Every first-year is also trying to navigate college life and make friends, so don’t be hesitant to reach out to new people

5. Just because a lot of people you know are getting into relationships, doesn’t mean that you have to as well

6. Be patient

Everyone adjusts differently. If it takes you a little longer to make friends or find your niche, or if all of your friends aren't adjusting well but you are, it is okay.

7. Participate in your classes

8. Don’t spend all of your plus-dollars on Starbucks

9. Get enough sleep

10. Make sure to put the effort into your friendships

11. Go to office hours and form a bond with your professors

12. Take advantage of all of the resources that UVA has to offer

13. If you want to go to the good basketball games, you have to get sabre points from events other than just the football games

14. Take advantage of meal-exchanges

15. Even though it may not work all of the time, download the bus app (this is especially for people in new dorms and suites)

16. Make sure to put effort into keeping up with your high school friends

17. You don’t need to party every weekend to fit in

18. Invest in good walking shoes

19. Study on the Lawn if you want to see a lot of dogs

20. Spend at least a little time every week caring for yourself

21. Always try to be kind to those around you

22. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t do as well as you did in high school

Everyone here (including yourself) is very smart and talented in their own way.

23. Find a reason to smile every day

Enjoy your time here; these are some of the greatest years of your life and they are going to fly by.

Congratulations on getting into an amazing university! You are going to love it here!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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23 Pieces Of Advice For UVA '23

Enjoy your first year; it's going to be amazing!

In This Article:

1. If you have a particular career/major in mind, be sure to plan some classes around it

2. Try new things

3. Don’t be afraid of rejection

4. Every first-year is also trying to navigate college life and make friends, so don’t be hesitant to reach out to new people

5. Just because a lot of people you know are getting into relationships, doesn’t mean that you have to as well

6. Be patient

7. Participate in your classes

8. Don’t spend all of your plus-dollars on Starbucks

9. Get enough sleep

10. Make sure to put the effort into your friendships

11. Go to office hours and form a bond with your professors

12. Take advantage of all of the resources that UVA has to offer

13. If you want to go to the good basketball games, you have to get sabre points from events other than just the football games

14. Take advantage of meal-exchanges

15. Even though it may not work all of the time, download the bus app (this is especially for people in new dorms and suites)

16. Make sure to put effort into keeping up with your high school friends

17. You don’t need to party every weekend to fit in

18. Invest in good walking shoes

19. Study on the Lawn if you want to see a lot of dogs

20. Spend at least a little time every week caring for yourself

21. Always try to be kind to those around you

22. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t do as well as you did in high school

23. Find a reason to smile every day

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This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

Run Around Clanging Pots and Pans in Everyone's Face

Eat the Last Few Pigs in a Blanket

Pop Twelve White Grapes

Burn Something

Smash Things Against a Wall

Spontaneously Begin an Irish Jig

Call Your Mother

Throw a Coffee Table Out a Window

Sing "Auld Lang Syne" at the Top of Your Lungs

Do Some Squats

Swan Dive into a Nearly Freezing Body of Water

Take a Shot

Time to be merry and bright.

"First Noel" by Leslie Odom, Jr

"A Holly Jolly Christmas" by Burl Ives

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Kelly Clarkson

"All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey

"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home" by Michael Buble

"Last Christmas" by Taylor Swift

"The Christmas Song" by Josh Groban

"White Christmas" by Idina Menzel

"O Holy Night" by David Archuleta

"Believe" by Josh Groban

"Les cloches du hameau" by Celine Dion

Or at least try to do.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

2. I will look decent for class.

3. I will go to the gym more.

4. I will go to the library and study more.

5. I will meet new people.

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

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