Dear Incoming College Freshman,

Welcome to college. You have what seems like never enough time to do everything you need. Here's how to do it.

Get out of your room. A lot of students come to college and are too afraid to go out and meet people. Some people come here with only one or two people from their high school and other people show up with basically their entire graduating class. Either way, go out and make new friends. High school friends often grow apart, so look for people that share your interests in classes or clubs on campus.

Being unsure of what you’re doing is very real and is very normal. During your first year, even if just for a few minutes, you’ll question sticking with your major. You’re going to question if Marshall was the right choice, or if college in general was the right choice. I was there, and so was pretty much everyone else I know. When you’re feeling this way, try to remember why you came to college in the first place. Try to remember your friends and family that support your decisions. It’s okay to be unsure, but don’t panic. Don’t drop out. Don’t do anything rash. Just wait it out, and it will get better.

You have to take classes you don’t really need so get over it. Everyone complains about how they have to take a history course when they don’t need it to be in business, but everyone has to take it. The best advice I can give you with this is double dip with your requirements. Don’t just take a history course. Take a history course that qualifies as your international and writing intensive credits as well. Don’t complain. Just do it and get it over with.

Do your work. So many people make the mistake of not taking classes or professors seriously. Your classes and GPA do matter. Make sure you set aside time to do homework and study. Remember your deadlines. I missed one deadline in the fall and ended up failing the class because it turned into three assignments. You don’t have to get an A on every assignment in every class, but do your best.

Enjoy college. Yes, take your classes seriously, but have fun. Don’t spend all of your time studying and working. Go out and have experiences. I can’t believe how quickly time flies. It sounds so cliche, but I blinked and skipped my first two years of college. I genuinely don’t remember much of my first year though because I didn’t do much. This year I met new people, challenged myself, and lives - it flew by. I have so many more memories. I’m not saying college is going to be the best years of your life, but you can make them great years with a little balance.

College can be great. You’re going to meet so many people and gain so many new experiences. You’re going to remember some of these experiences for years to come. You’re going to grow as a person. So take a breath, and enjoy it.

Love,

A Junior Who Blinked