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Health and Wellness

Dear College Freshman

Bailey Keefer

Oct 24, 2016

Wilson College

Huffington Post

Dear College Freshman,

You are a hot mess but you will make it through. You are going to struggle and want to pull your hair out or scream. You will have fake friends, friends from your major and your friends back home. You're job is to make sure you understand the difference between them. You are going to want to drop out but don't do it. You will succeed and fail but that doesn't make you a failure. You will not want to get out of bed for those 8am classes but you have to. You are going to want to binge watch Netflix instead of do homework. You will keep telling yourself that you will just do it later because you have time. When in reality you go to do your homework and it's due at 11:59pm and it's 11:50pm.

You don't have to look like Beyoncé going to school everyday. Everyone there already knows you are a hot mess, so just wear sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt because who wants to get up even earlier than you already have to? No one that's who. At least give looking decent a try once in a while so they know you don't live under a rock. Just know that you can't do it all on your own. Man up and ask your teachers for help or other students for help. Don't be superman and think you can do it all on your own because you will inevitably fail.

Do not skip classes because you're too tired or you just don't feel like going. Each class you skip is anywhere from $100-$700 you are wasting by sleeping in. Let that sink in. Take naps in between classes if you live on campus so you make it through the day. Naps can be your best friends in college. Don't watch Netflix as a fill in for you homework but watch Netflix while doing your homework. You did not choose to pay thousands of dollars to watch Netflix all day.

Do not and I repeat do not try to do all of your homework at one time. If you have time in between classes, do some homework or study so you don't kill yourself doing 7 hours of homework until 4 in the morning. Study, because you are not superhuman and know everything already. You will fail if you do not study and you do not know it all already because you wouldn't be in college if you already did.

You will survive and you will most likely succeed. Have fun but not too much fun if you know what I mean. Don't screw it up either because that's thousands of dollars down the drain. It's just the beginning.

Sincerely,

A college freshman who knows your struggles

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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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Dear College Freshman

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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.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

What does the world outside the library look like?

Can I read this entire book tonight?

I should have gone to class more often.

Did the professor even teach this?

What is the lowest grade I can get on this exam and still pass the class?

Should I just drop out of school now?

Finals are ruining Christmas.

Just wrote three sentences so time for a break.

Need. More. Coffee.

What is sleep?

I'm too stupid for college.

Brain hurts.

Time for a Facebook Break.

I think I'm dying.

When will I ever need this information in the real world?

I can't read any of my notes.

I need my mom.

When was the last time I showered?

I need study snacks.

The struggle is so real right now.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

11. When someone suggests going and studying in the library, let alone studying in general.

12. When the cafeteria or student center is packed and you can't find a seat anywhere so you literally have to sit in an abandoned corner.

13. When you see someone you used to hook up with. They see you, and approach you; so you have to pretend like everything is normal.

14. When you get your exam and realize you didn't study as much as you should have.

15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

16. I need a grande, extra strong coffee to get me through today.

17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

24. Why is there never any parking? I pay thousands of dollars a year for one parking spot to be open.

25. When it feels like you've been in class for an hour and you look at your phone and it has only been five minutes (I'm crying on the inside).

26. When the professor asks if there are any more questions at the end of class and someone raises their hand.

27. When you get assigned the most incompetent group of people possible for a group project.

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