If I have learned anything from college, it's life lessons on how to survive this crazy four-year ride. I absolutely love the experience so far, but there are definitely some unspoken tips to provide for those in need of a lifeline on how to overcome the transition from high school to college.
1. The first night/week in college is very intimidating.
Although college is an amazing experience, the first week, let alone the first night, is a little rough to overcome. College is a brand new world which unquestionably comes with big responsibilities, new faces, and a bit of loneliness. However, after you get past the first few days, you will then realize that you've made the best decision of your life!
2. All-nighters are not a myth—I repeat, not a myth.
You may have heard of these enchanting events in movies or on TV shows (and you may have even experienced one or two yourself in high school), but college all-nighters are not to be undermined or taken lightly—they are the death of us all! As if procrastination didn't get the best of us as is, all-nighters are there to remind you of how much you should have done your homework instead of taking that four-hour shopping break. In most cases, your friends will be experiencing the same regret as you, so you can keep each other company while chugging coffee at 5 a.m. to finish your assignment that is due at 6 a.m. I know what you're thinking and don't worry, wearing the same clothes you've been in for 24-hours is an acceptable trait in college.
3. You will absolutely without a doubt gain weight in college.
But here's why: Your body is changing. You're maturing into an adult and growing out of your childhood shell—with that comes weight gain of muscles, organs, and certain body parts. Additionally, most new college students go on a frenzy with the options and unlimited amounts of food in the dining halls—as if we've never seen food before.
4. On the contrary, weight loss is achievable with healthy habits.
The "Freshman 15" and "Sophomore 30" legends do not need to come true! Although dining hall foods may not be the healthiest meals you've ever seen, you have the ability to choose your own food and make healthy decisions. Follow these helpful tips to stay in shape:
1. Don't go drinking every night—alcohol has more calories than you think.
2. Don't make decisions about what fast-food to eat while intoxicated, because you'll most likely end up with a meal from Wendy's, McDonald's, Wawa, and Burger King.
3. Don't make decisions about what fast-food to eat during an all-nighter (the same outcome as No. 2 will occur).
4. Don't go up for a third helping at the all-you-can-eat desert bars after dinner.
5. Although the gym looks scary, too complicated, and overly social, it is a friend that wants you to visit at least once a week.
5. Showering and doing your laundry needs to be scheduled!
Never did I think that I would have to schedule my showers around other people's agendas, but college calls for many bizarre events. Want to get a shower before class and expect no one to be in the stalls? Wrong! Most people are having the same intentions as you, and they just so happened to get to the warm water first. Plan your showers ahead of time! The same goes for doing your laundry—don't want until late Sunday night, because in most cases you'll just have another week's worth of dirty clothes.
6. Nobody cares about what "grade" you're in.
College is not like high school—nobody hates the freshmen because nobody cares. There must have been a secret transition that nobody talks about when evolving from high school to college, because everyone is way more mature when it comes to finding out how old you are. For the most part, freshmen normally take classes with students who have the same amount of credits as them, but that could mean someone who is 18 or someone who is 40! Your year doesn't matter in college because credits are always gained and lost when you get into the civics of taking more classes, taking less classes, or transferring.
7. Your professor's syllabus is pretty much the "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide" to your class.
Read, eat, sleep, breathe your syllabi! Unless a professor tells you that they either don't have set dates for assignments and exams (which almost never happens), or they don't follow their written syllabus completely, you should pretty much take that as a sign to memorize your assignment due dates for each class!
8. You can identify the "newbies" just by how they're dressed.
Apparently there's an unspoken rule when you commit to the college you'll attend: Buy out the school store and dress head-to-toe in your new gear. During the first month of being a freshman, it's obvious that all you wear are your college's sweatpants/yoga pants, T-shirts/V-necks, sweatshirts/crew-necks, and school spirited lanyards; and surprisingly, that's OK! Just know that we as upperclassmen can identify you as a newbie. However, after Thanksgiving break rolls around, you'll fit in with the rest of us by occasionally repping the school attire because your laundry will be too overflowed to wear those cool outfits any longer (and after day three of wearing the same shirt, people start to notice. See No. 5 for more details).
9. Naps are the key to survival.
It's true: College kids are just life-sized toddlers—we need our naps! Whether you constantly go out with your friends, stay up late doing homework, take a trip to Taco Bell for a 2 a.m. snack, wake up extra early to get the favorable breakfast before your 8 a.m., or sporadically pull those dreadful all-nighters, sleep is not a word we hear much about in college. Although we try to get as much sleep as we can, it's rare to get more than seven hours all in one session. Therefore, we take naps to keep the Zombie Apocalypse from happening. Don't feel lazy when you want to nap, college schedules are hectic and tiring, it's no wonder we need our beauty sleep in the middle of the day.
10. You will finally feel like you fit in.
Although it may take a bit of time for some people, college is where you find your soulmates. The people you become friends with will be absolutely unforgettable, and will accept you for the person you are. They will be the people you cry to at 3 a.m. when you're going through a break-up, they're the people who check on you at hour 27 going on no sleep, and most importantly, they are the people who you will ask yourself how you lived without for so long. These people are the reason college is so extraordinary and life-changing. So yes, learn as much as you can, and make unforgettable mistakes, but the most important thing to take from college are the people who stand by your side throughout it all.
