New beginnings can be scary, but you'll learn so much from them.
1. You're not alone.
If you're completely across the country from where you grew up, or even if you stayed in your hometown, there will be times when you're lonely. The friends you had at the end of high school will be doing other things in other places, you'll miss your parents, your pets, and even your siblings. And unfortunately, Skype and FaceTime only go so far to fill that loneliness. But you will find your group, your people at college. They will be the ones to take late night Walmart trips with you, sit with you when none of you want to study, and most of all, they'll make you feel more comfortable. They will comfort you and make sure that you know you aren't alone. Even if they can annoy you at times.
2. You are the master of your fate and the captain of your soul.
As clique as that is, most people know that quote and it becomes increasingly important at college. For a lot of people, moving away to college is the first time they actually gain a substantial amount of independence. Of course, there are still multiple things that you will rely on your parents/guardians for, and by no means are you 100% independent, but it's close. Overall, most of college is making your own decisions. Whether thats what to buy for groceries, or whether or not to go to class, you're the one making those decisions. The independence can be freeing and exciting for a while, but it comes with costs too. You have to learn to make decisions that are best for you, some might be hard decisions, some might be easy, but they're ultimately up to you.
3. Live a little and have fun.
College is hard. The coursework is not easy, and it won't get easier. You're away from home and you miss your friends/parents. But if you focus too much on all the negatives, you will be miserable. You will start to harm your mental state. So, if you're super stressed, get out and take a walk, or go get a treat, meet a friend for coffee, etc. Doing something you enjoy will lower your stress levels and make you feel better. Plus, it will make studying much easier when you get back to it with a level head. Do your body and mind a favor and take a break when you feel too stressed.
4. The "Freshmen 15" doesn't have to happen.
For a lot of incoming freshmen, they're told that they'll gain 15lbs in their first year, which for some people is true. The ultimate freedom of choosing what you want to eat in the cafeteria can cause people to gain weight. But not for everyone. You can choose to watch what you eat and not gain the weight. Being mindful of what you eat is the main way to prevent this weight gain. But, becoming obsessed with the term "freshmen 15" isn't good either. It's okay to eat a cookie everyday, or to have pizza sometimes. But going overboard is what causes people to gain weight, because it's so accessible. You are not guaranteed to gain the weight and you don't have to.
5. You will learn a lot about yourself.
With so many changes occurring, you are bound to learn a lot, especially about yourself. You might think you're interested in a field of study when you start, and by the end of the year, you never want to take a class like that again. You will interact with many different kinds of people, which will broaden your mind, and help you discover what you like and what you don't. Maybe you think you're heterosexual, and you leave college homosexual or bisexual, or any other sexual orientation. Maybe you return from college with bright pink hair, or a new nose piercing. College is a time to explore yourself and your interests, which can bring along changes. And those changes aren't bad, they just help you discover yourself deeper.
