The month of July is behind us, and with its end is the inevitable coming of a new chapter of your life: college. By now, I bet you are wishing you had a dollar for every time someone asked you where you are going to school or what you are majoring in. Maybe you have attended a plethora of grad parties and have probably had one of your own, as well. Lots of excitement, nervousness and maybe even sadness surround this subject of going off to school as you prepare to plunge into unknown territory. From the girl who was in your shoes last year, allow me to ease your mind with some advice and encouragement to help carry you into this new and exciting season.
1. You will make friends.
One of my biggest fears coming into college was that I would not connect well with others or find a group that I felt I belonged to. The lens of anxiety clouded my vision and I assumed the worst. All I had ever known was the world of high school where my closest friends either went to other schools or were homeschooled. I feared that college would be just like high school, but I was wrong. What I encountered in college were companions who truly blessed my heart and made me feel at home. I know you will discover something similar as you venture down the road of higher education. It may take a few months to really understand who your true friends are, but you will find them. Some of them may even stick by your side for the rest of your life, so do not allow this worry to speak lies to your heart.
2. Communicate with your roommate.
Communication is such a huge deal that I could write paragraph after paragraph about it. If you are anything like me, chances are you hate confronting people or telling somebody that something is bothering you. But I cannot stress this enough: communicating with the person you are rooming with is crucial to a great freshman year. One of the very first things my roommate said to me was to make sure I told her if anything was bothering me. I did not want to hear it, because, as I stated before, confrontation is not something I enjoy. But her telling me that freed me up to say things I probably would not have said had she not had that conversation with me. I had to be honest with my roommate and one of my dearest college friends over an issue that could have torn us apart, but it actually strengthened our relationship instead. Please, do yourself and your future roommate a favor and say what needs to be said.
3. Be responsible.
College life requires a level of responsibility that is quite foreign from that of high school. So, first off, be sure you buy a planner. This little tool will become invaluable to navigating the world of academics. Your professors may only tell you about an assignment once (or maybe not at all), so it becomes up to you to know your syllabus for every class! Write down important dates, set alarms in your phone or put sticky notes on your desk to help you through assignments. Do whatever works best to help you get things accomplished! Also, do your laundry. You may be thinking, "Duh! Of course I'll remember that." Trust me when I say that there will be times where life becomes so busy, laundry is pushed to the back of your mind. So when you have a free day, do it!
Back to the friends thing...Some of you will make so many friends you will not know what to do with them all, and all you will want to do is hang out and party. Don't. Definitely schedule social time and do not allow homework to be the sole purpose of your life! But please, do yourself a favor and limit the number of parties or events you attend. Your GPA will thank you for this.
4. Don't be ashamed of sadness
In the months leading up to leaving for college, I really struggled with the idea of leaving home. I grew up in a great home environment and the idea of saying goodbye to my wonderful parents was difficult for me. You may be in an opposite state of mind when it comes to this, ready for increased independence and excited about a new place to be. But if you are feeling even remotely the way I did last summer, talk to people about it. Be honest with your parents if you are having a hard time. Cry if you have to. Allow me to be the voice of hope, though, when I say that I transitioned just fine and learned to really love college. You will too, but it may take some time. In the meantime, do not be afraid of homesickness. Just know everything will be ok and push yourself to make the very best out of this situation.
5. It's OK to be undeclared
Many of my college friends entered school without a major and perhaps you are in the same boat. You may be feeling pressured by family or friends to just know it all and have your whole life figured out by now. But let me tell you a secret: you are 17 or 18 years old and you do not have to know. Some adults do not even know what they are doing with their lives! If there was ever a time where it was alright to not have a plan, this would be the time. For now, focus on getting through your general education courses and exploring. Take classes or join clubs you would never have tried in previous years. Get to know this person called you. In time, you will understand more about what you like and dislike and where your strengths are. But for now, just relax and enjoy the ride!
College is a crazy time, full of discoveries and new experiences. As you enter into the month of August, be confident as you start shopping for supplies and packing everything up. If you forget something, it is OK! Most likely, a nearby store will have just what you need. Make last-minute plans with your high school friends before you go your separate ways. Get involved on your campus! Put yourself out there. Study hard, but do not be afraid to fail. Make mistakes and learn from them. Call your parents. Befriend your roommate. And enjoy, because this time of your life only comes once. Make the most of it.
