It's hard to believe that I am officially halfway through college. If I had looked into my own high-school-senior eyes, I would've seen intimidation, excitement, and pure confusion as to how I could possibly be old enough to live on my own. All of the mixed emotions I felt grew as I began to receive toilet paper and hand towels as graduation presents. Was I even prepared to live on my own? The answer is yes, thanks to these ten little pieces of advice I discovered along the way.
1. Say yes to every opportunity.
GiphyThis definitely has varying levels of acceptability. If you have a huge test the next morning, don't go to the sports game or on a spontaneous trip to Krispy Kreme. However, if you keep your door open (as you should), someone is bound to come ask to hang out or invite you to play cards or volleyball. Say yes! And, if you absolutely have to study or get meals in between studying, you should still 100% say yes to study dates and coffee dates.
2. Invite someone new to every meal.
GiphyGoing off of my last point, you can also be the person inviting others to hang out and get meals. You will be meeting a ton of new people the first few weeks of school through your orientation group, hallmates, classmates, clubs, and mutual friends/roommates of all of the above. That is a lot of friend potential right there. Take advantage of the fact that you are all new and looking for friends, and ask someone to get lunch! It sounds awkward, but I promise it's not. I mean, who doesn't want to try out all of the new dining hall food?
3. You don’t have to try to look good for class.
Giphy- You live with the people you go to school with, so they see you at your best and your worst. College is exhausting, don't waste your sleep time waking up an hour before class just to get ready in the morning! The only exception to this is when you have a presentation, please don't stand up in front of the class looking like a bum.
4. You will probably gain some weight.
GiphyNo matter how healthy you are before college, or even during, you will gain a little weight. Don't panic, it's a part of getting older and your body is adjusting to a lot of stress and new foods. Utilize the free gym and workout classes that come with it, they're super fun and a great way to meet new people! At the same time, also take advantage of the dining hall food. Eat healthy and drink a lot of water, but also splurge on the dessert every once in awhile (dining hall desserts are amazing).
5. Take advantage of free things.
GiphyYou will get a lot of free stuff your first month of college. Free tshirts, phone sleeves, keychains, hand sanitizers, chocolate chip cookies, the list goes on and on. Take the free food and save it for a late night snack. Take all the free t-shirts and wear them to messy events like color runs.
6. Show genuine interest in your classes.
GiphyYou are in college to get a college education, and this is actually such a cool opportunity. You will learn so many things about the world and how all of the subjects interact. Forget everything you thought you knew about learning in high school, and don't just memorize the facts. Ask questions and get involved in your education!
7. Melatonin is essential
GiphyThe walls are pretty thin, people. You'd be surprised at how loud your neighbors could be on a Monday night at 3am when you're trying to sleep. Especially if your neighbors have loud bass speakers and have to fall asleep to action movies on Netflix. Invest in some melatonin for those nights you know your sleep could be interrupted or hard to reach. You'll thank me later.
8. Respect your roommate.
Giphy​Your roommate has potential to be your best friend on campus and is a great person to go to if you want company to an event. Even if you aren't instant bffs, you still have to live with them for several months. Make it clear the way you like to live, but be respectful and receptive of any living habits they have that may conflict with yours. They will treat you the way you treat them!
9. Join a few clubs you LOVE rather than a lot that you like.
GiphyTime management is key in the world of extracurriculars. Go to your school's organization fair and attend the intro meetings for the clubs you're interested in, but don't commit too much time to a club that doesn't necessarily have to do with your major or isn't one of your favorite hobbies.
10. Explore!
GiphyWhether you're in a brand new city or a brand new state, you are exposed to a kind of new culture and fun activities and places to go along with it. Take advantage of this! Go on runs off campus, drive to the nearest big city, small town, or nature destination like the mountains or the beach! This will reduce some of the stress from school and get you out of the little college bubble you live in.
All in all, try not to stress too much about college. It will become the best four years of your life (sorry, high school). Take a deep breath, read over the advice I've provided you with, and trust me. This is your year. Now release your breath, you're looking a little purple.
