It's spring. My Facebook timeline is flooded with excited teenagers who think that the piece of paper they've just gotten is their defining moment, the step towards something better. Yeah, it is. But welcome to the next level, freshmen. It's about to get real.
While you're cheering and tossing mortarboards as the graduation ceremonies come to a close, I can't help but think: You kiddos are in for a ride.
First of all, welcome to the semi-grown up part of your life.
If you're going to college, prepare yourselves. There are going to be times you love and times you loathe. People are going to cross your paths, and it's okay if they don't stick around because, frankly, someone better is definitely going to fill their spot. You may drift from those friends you had in high school, and you'll miss them. That's okay too, because the friends you're going to make might even be better, and they may last forever.
Don't let your bad habits from high school follow you to college. If you sucked at studying then, you don't have to suck now. Those cliche methods of flashcards and study groups do work. Don't take for granted the resources on campus. If there's a writing center or study sessions for your class, go to them. They're indelible and not all teachers are generous enough to offer them.
Don't stay out all night every night, but don't be afraid to give yourself a break once in a while either.
Don't buy the books before attending the class. Join a campus Facebook group and ask about your instructor. Research your teacher and hear what others who have taken them have to say about them. Be prepared. Not all of them are nightmares, but not all of them are a dream, either.
Midterms will grind your mind to mush, but so will finals.
Bring coffee.
The Freshman 15 are real. So are the Freshman 20, 25, and 30.
Don't binge on sugar.
Use the free gym pass on campus.
Yoga classes are great to exert your academic stress.
Don't forget that nature exists. Sometimes a walk in the park can make your project a little easier.
Don't procrastinate.
Read the book. The CliffNotes aren't going to have the quotes you need.
Get ready for theory classes. They will mess you up.
Email is the key to success. Check it hourly.
Don't treat yoself all the time. You'll be so broke, you'll be ready to strip just to buy a beef taco at Taco Bell.
Visit the art student shows on campus. They love the support, and you'll get to see some amazing pieces of work.
Meal plans aren't the worst thing in the world.
Apply for scholarships. All of the scholarships.
Don't get a job and let your grades fall. Get a job, but never let it come before your academics.
Read. The. Syllabus. Frame it. Laminate it. Never lose it. Everything is in the syllabus. Your life is the syllabus.
And last but not least: Savor every minute, because when you get through this, you're going to have to be an adult. And they say the high school years are the best. I didn't think so. College is the best. And you're going to love everything-- the friends, the knowledge, and the disrupted circadian rhythms-- that you get out of it. Memories are in the four walls of your high school, but even bigger, crazier ones are in the four years you spend out on your own. Be responsible, but let yourself go once in a while, and you'll be fine.
