1. Introduce yourself to people and actually remember their names.
Besides being able to go stalk them on Twitter later, remembering the names of people you are bound to see a million more times around campus is so important. It means a lot to others when you call them by name. You may even end up becoming really good friends. Plus, it’s awkward if you have to ask their name later on after you’ve already had like five conversations with them.
2. Use your time wisely.
This item of the list is specifically to reassure you that it is absolutely acceptable to take 10-minute naps. On the other hand it is probably not wise to watch Netflix for five hours at a time like you did all summer. Personally, I think it helps to plan my day in my phone calendar beforehand to make sure I set a time to accomplish everything I must get done.
3. When someone offers free food, eat it.
Free food is the best food you’ll ever eat. Always be on the look out to save money by reading your university’s email, bulletins, or newspaper about events. It seems like there’s always some kind of event going on that offers free food. Plus, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if you actually meet a few new people in your free food scavenging.
4. Call home.
Do not forget where your bread has been buttered for the past 18 years. Your parents are probably at the stage where they try to play it cool by not calling every two seconds and aggravating you, but I promise they are just waiting to hear all about your college experience.
5. Get involved.
You'd be surprised at how many clubs, groups and activities colleges have. The opportunities are endless. There’s literally something to be involved in for every single type of person out there.
6. Keep in touch with your best friends.
While you’re calling your parents, don’t forget to call your best friends, who have inevitably gone to a different college than you. Yes, you will meet tons of new and awesome friends in college, but don’t forget about your roots. Don’t lose the people who know about your fourth grade buck teeth. You don’t have to talk every day, but let them know you love them and appreciate them as often as you can. Remember, you go home for Christmas break and summer, so there will be plenty of time to have fun again like old times.
7. Be a sponge.
Absorb all possible information in the classroom as well as in the outside world. In college, it’s actually cool to be smart. It’s even cooler when you’ve gone to class and studied all semester so that during finals week, it’s not as dramatically bad as everyone says it is. Now in the outside world, you are on your own pretty much. Learn how to do adult things. Once you get a real job, you don’t magically understand how to adult in an instant. College is the time when you learn and do adult things on your own. Remember, you can call mom for her to explain how to do it, but you must do it yourself once you understand what needs to be done.
8. Thank God for opening new doors and closing old ones.
While you’re at it, find your campus church and get acquainted. It’s really important to do this immediately when you get to college because chances are if you keep putting it off, you will never get around to do it. You may even lose your faith all together. Time spent with God will allow you to stay grounded, keep your priorities straight and release stress. Focus on Christ, and everything will fall into place.
