The first week of college is so exciting! New classes, new place, new friends, there's just so much to be discovered. But along with all of the great new things college has to offer, there are obviously going to be a few downsides as well.
1. Freedom!
It's always a good idea to start on a positive note. After years of eight-hour school days sitting in a desk, 11 p.m. curfews, and someone always telling you what to do, college definitely offers you a sense of freedom. With that being said, it's important to be able to handle that freedom and use your time wisely!
2. Homesickness
Sure, we have freedom now, but that also means the people who we've been with throughout our lives aren't right next to us telling us when to be home either. It's a blessing and a curse!
3. Meeting new friends
College has a much wider variety than high school, so it's much easier to meet people with similar interests, especially through clubs and activities!
4. Orientation week icebreakers
Let me just say, this is obviously intended to help us get to know people, but I'm pretty sure none of us even remembered the person sitting next to us or one fun fact about them.
5. Classes
Unlike high school, in college you take classes that actually pertain to what you plan to do with your life. Instead of all of your classes being rooms full of students who couldn't care less about what they're being taught, you have at least a class or two where everyone is invested in the subject. Plus, here we are paying for our education instead of just being forced to come, so hopefully, everyone is more alert.
6. Classes (as a con)
Okay, so I guess it's weird to say something can be a pro and a con but hear me out. Classes seem to be more interesting in college so far, but on the other hand they're also going to be much more challenging. In the long run this is probably a good thing, but it definitely won't seem like it when I'm studying like crazy for five different exams that I'll have within the next two days.
7. Responsibilities
Personally, I grew up with people doing everything for me. I was not looking forward to this aspect of college, but after living through the first week of it, it feels pretty amazing. Doing things for yourself obviously gives you extra work, but it also gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment.
8. Having to make a special trip downstairs just to wash one dish
Or...you can be like me and walk a few feet to the bathroom with your dawn. Or if you're super lazy (like me sometimes), you can even use a water bottle, dawn, and a roll of paper towels for silverware right in your own dorm room!
9. Meal swipes included in tuition
I mean, sure, you're still paying for it technically, but there's a place with unlimited food for one swipe! I'd say that's pretty worth it instead of having to go buy groceries all the time, and who feels like cooking anyway?
10. Tuition and student loans
Yeah, we get a decent meal plan in here, but boy do we pay for it! College can definitely be expensive, but hopefully by sticking it out, we can all get awesome jobs to pay off all the debt we'll have in a few short years.
11. No dress code!
I'm sure it's known by anyone close to me, but I am not a fan of dress code, especially strict ones involving khakis and polos (like the one at my high school). In college, there's literally nothing telling us what to wear, and believe it or not, no one is distracted by my shorts that don't go down to my knees, imagine that! With that being said, I'm going to end here without giving another con, because it's never a bad idea to end on a positive note!
