You are about to enter college. I am sure that you are feeling all of the things that I felt when I went into my freshman year. You are feeling nervous, excited, scared, anxious and a mix of every other emotion there is at one time. You may be leaving home for the first time or not, but I am sure there is still a sense of anxiety when it comes to leaving home. You may have visited campus a load of times, but you will not get a full feel for it until you live there. You may be nervous about making new friends or fitting in. I know I was nervous about what the food was going to be like, what if it was horrible and so I was always hungry. I decided to come up with a few tips to help ease your anxiety of the upcoming year.
1. Be Yourself
I know everyone probably always says this to you, but it’s true. In high school it might have been easier to conform to other people’s ideas of what is “cool and uncool.” But in college, do not worry about that, do your thing. People will applaud you for not pretending to be something you are not.
2. Find One Food That is Your "Go-To Food."
The dining hall can be a scary place with lots of choices, and sometimes you don’t even know what the mush that was put on to your plate is. Try to find out if your school has a salad bar that’s always open, and make yourself a salad. (My personal favorite in my dining hall was the white rice that was served almost every day.)
3. Invest in a Door Stop
Even if your room has air conditioning, (mine didn’t) keep your door open as much as you can. This is a way to meet new people. It may seem weird, but people will stop by to say hello. Encourage other people to leave their doors open as well. I met my best friends by doing this!
4. Join Clubs
I regret not joining any clubs my freshman year. It is scary to think about walking into a club and not knowing anyone. But all these people share a common interest and often make the best friends. This is also a way to meet people from other grades that you may not meet otherwise. If you are scared to go by yourself, enlist a friend to go with you.
5. Go to Class
It may be tempting to skip class and lay in bed instead, but it is really not worth it. Even if your professor does not take attendance, go to class. It only helps you in the long run. But if you are sick, or physically cannot make it to class, email your professor BEFORE class to let them know you will be out.
6. Read the Syllabus
It is kind of like the terms and conditions, but in this case, you actually want to read it. This is where you will receive due dates and grading policies. This is an important piece (or pieces) of paper.
7. Have Fun!
I know this is cliché, but it’s true. College is supposed to be where you find yourself and what you want to be doing. You need to be able to have fun doing that.
So welcome freshman. Enjoy college. Be yourself and you will thrive.
