If you're anything like me when I was preparing for college, then you have probably been reading a lot of articles about how to prepare and survive this Fall. And if this is the case I'm sure you've seen one of the many articles out there telling you what not to do or bring unless you want to stick out as an obvious freshman. The idea behind these countless lists that are created and shared every year is that freshman are clueless and aren't completely sure how to thrive in college yet. While sometimes they contain useful advice, a lot of the time they're more harmful and inaccurate then they are actually helpful.
One of the most common do-nots I see is to not use a lanyard, but during my first year, I witnessed students in every grade utilizing them simply because they're useful and a great way to showcase something about yourself. I definitely made a couple connections with people talking about their lanyard whether it be Harry Potter-themed or featuring tacos. There's even a whole rack of them sold at my school's campus store.
But beyond the fact that these do-not lists have continually dissed something I full-heartedly support as being more than a freshman tool but a useful tool that in all honesty, students of all grades utilize, I find these lists to be limiting to students, a cause of worry for incoming freshmen, sharing and promoting broad generalizations, and can make it seem as if you need to hide the fact that you are a freshman.
Being a freshman is NOT something to be ashamed of. It's something to be excited and proud of. You made it! You got through years of schooling and then on top of that, you successfully received admission to a college. This is a dream for millions every year and for many, it doesn't become a reality. So cherish this achievement and be proud of it! Don't be afraid to hide your newness to the experience because everyone on the campus has been there. Don't let this fear prevent you from asking the questions you aren't sure of, trying something you've been dying to check out, and from building the college life you desire. The mistakes you'll make at the beginning, you'll learn from, and grow from.
Most of these lists talk about things nobody even pays attention to in real life. And if someone does they're honestly too judgemental. You definitely shouldn't let them deter you from packing what you want to bring. Personally, I moved 2000 miles away so you best believe I packed my ENTIRE closet full of clothes and shoes. Do I have any regrets? Not a single one. For me, it was not feasible to not bring it all. The climate where I moved to would change from hot to freezing cold before I'd go home for any breaks. While not bringing your entire closet might be good advice for someone who lives within weekend visiting distance, for those long-distance college travelers it's not as ideal.
The original idea of these freshmen do-not lists was to help incoming students adjust to the college life better but I feel like for many lists this goal has been lost. Instead, the lists generalized experiences and needs, making it seem as if all freshman would thrive under these recommended conditions. This is not the case and I know several friends who felt deterred from following the path they originally thought best for them because a listicle advised them it would label them as a Frosh right away. A lot of them regretted this decision at some point within the first year.
Beyond the fact these lists aren't the answer for all freshmen experiences, ask yourself why being labeled as a freshman is a reason to deter you? If anything should deter you it's the fact that you realize something isn't necessary, it would take up space you could use for something you want to bring more, or something else would help you be more productive and happy.
To fully understand why these do-not articles for freshman are wrong we have to think about the reasoning behind them. At the beginning of this article, I wrote about how it's because of assumptions about how freshmen can be clueless and don't know what to do. It's for this reason, students don't want to be labeled as one. But that definition isn't accurate at all. While it does make sense that a freshman would know less than those who are seniors, it's wrong to label cluelessness and mistakes as being bad. If you can say you've never made a single mistake or never not known what to do in a situation, I applaud you. But for the vast majority of people, mistakes are a natural part of life and will happen to all students regardless of being a first year or not.
Let's give advice based off what we've learned during our own college journey but let's stop assuming this advice is best for ALL first years. And most importantly let's stop acting like being labeled as a freshman is such a bad thing. Because in reality, it doesn't matter at all.
