With my first semester away at school coming to a close, I feel that it's important to reflect on all of the lessons I learned in the past 3 months. I came into college thinking that I knew it all, but I was definitely mistaken. Being away at home for all this time has been the biggest learned lesson and growing experience. It has taught me to become independent and face my fears head on. Here are some of my thoughts that I've compiled throughout the first semester as a college student:
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1. I have no idea how to "adult."
The whole concept of "adulting" is a foreign language to me. I find myself constantly calling home asking the most simple questions. Three months into the semester and I still couldn't tell you how to do laundry or how to even write a check. Being an adult is hard and everyday I wish I could just lay in bed and shove all my responsibilities away.
2) Putting yourself out there and making friends is key.
My biggest concern when going away to college was making friends. I knew that in order to survive these next four years I needed to have a core group. Making friends in earlier days was as simple as "hey wanna be my friend?", but college is so different. Putting yourself out there and actually making an effort is required if you want to find your people.
3) Keeping in touch with old friends from home is crucial.
This one seems like a given, but I've definitely seen people slip away due to lack of communication. Calling and face-timing your home friends should become a daily thing to give them life updates. Keeping in touch with your home friends is so comforting and can always keep you uplifted through the stress of college.
4) Snacks will become a full meal.
Before starting college I honestly thought I would eat so healthy with all of the options that the dining hall has to offer, but I was greatly mistaken. Lets be real, the dining hall sucks, and has little to no healthy options. Another downside to the dining hall is having to walk over there for every meal. When it gets cold out, nobody wants to leave their room so the last resort is snacking. Snacking becomes a way of life in college and it's okay. Goldfish for breakfast and granola bars for dinner.
5) The library is intimidating.
If I'm being honest, I still haven't been to the library this semester. Before this semester started I told myself that I would always get out of my room and study in the library. But the library is so intimidating! Just watching the mass amounts of people that walk in and out every single day is enough to keep me out of there. I'll just stick to studying in the quiet rooms in my building for now.
6) GO. TO. OFFICE HOURS.
It's so important, especially at a big school, to make relationships with your professors. Meeting with a professor can be intimidating, but once you go it honestly changes your studying habits. If you don't understand something in class or are stuck on something in the homework, just go to the professor or a TA and they'll be more than happy to help, that's what they're there for after all.
7) It's okay to get homesick, but don't let it consume you.
While being away from home for a long time, it's inevitable that you're going to get homesick. It's totally okay to get homesick and spend some time upset, BUT, this doesn't mean to sit in your dorm all alone waiting until the next time you get home. Put yourself out there, make friends, and experience college life to keep yourself distracted.
8) Nobody has their life together.
It can be easy these days, especially with social media where everyone has their "perfect" life on display, to think that some people have it all. The reality is, nobody knows what they're doing. Everyone struggles in school, some more than others, and everyone has their own problems. It's so important to remember this and stop comparing yourself to those around you.
9) Don't let your social life dominate your school work.
College is fun, college is exciting and new. Coming into college you're immediately overwhelmed with all of the freedom you're granted. You have no rules, no curfew, and you can pretty much do whatever you want without your parents nagging you. While it's SO important to take advantage of this freedom, it's important not to abuse it either. Going out every single night in college might seem like the greatest thing ever, but remember the reason why you came here in the first place.
10) You can't study for an exam the day of and expect to do well.
In high school, you could study for an exam literally the period before the class and still get a perfect score. In college, this isn't the case. I remember on my first ever college exam I reverted back to my old high school studying habits and only studied the morning of this exam. Obviously, I did horrible, but that taught me the importance of time management and taking aside time every night to go over material that will be on the exam.
