1. The workload.
"Every teacher will act like their class is your only class," my high school teachers always told me. They did so mostly to encourage us to do our homework, what with the Senioritis epidemic happening all around us last year. Unfortunately I didn't listen, and my old procrastination and all-nighter habits have died hard. I am working to overcome them, but it is a struggle.
I know, I know: I'm only a freshman, and in a year or so I'll have it way worse. Unfortunately, the broken leg I will have later doesn't magically cure the sprained ankle I have now.
2. Getting a job.
3. That Tumblr post that said "If you don't have to take the 8 am class, don't take the 8 am class!" lied to us all.
This semester I opted only for classes that started at 10 am or later, and I can honestly say it was the biggest mistake of my life. Since my last class ends at 3:50 pm, I have less time to do my homework than I would if it ended at 12 pm. Housekeeping closes at 2 pm, which means that the latest I can start work at is 8 am. I don't know about you, but I hate getting up at 7 am to get ready for work — especially since the whole point of avoiding 8 am classes was to sleep in.
4. Self advocacy is hard and kind of scary.
From pronouns to accommodations for my disabilities, it's kind of scary having to advocate for myself all the time. I know why I have to do it and that it's necessary, but I keep forgetting to make appointments to get accommodations, sometimes I'm too nervous to correct people's use of incorrect pronouns or gendered terms, and being this independent takes some getting used to.
Moreover, as much as people encourage you to go to TA hours or office hours to get help with classwork, doing that is scary for me because it means I have to either be around other people or be with the teacher one-on-one. It also means that I will have to perfectly articulate what it is I need help with, and I can't always do that.
5. Naps having to be strategic... if they happen at all. Just kidding, actually it's more like this:
6. Not being able to video chat with my parents and friends off campus as much as I'd like to.
Between homework, food, and my social life, I simply do not have time — and when I do have time I don't always feel like it, because sometimes all I have energy for is laying down on my bed and staring at the ceiling.
7. Not being able to see my friends at other universities as much as I would like to.
"I'll buy bus tickets later."
"Ugh, but I have so much homework to do."
"You know what, maybe I'll just go next weekend. I'll even buy tickets in advance... later, of course."
8. Actually having a social life!
Oh well. I'll do it later.
