Oh man, oh man.
First things first: I just watched this show last week and I loved it. The plot's time period is akin to other fictional TV shows: Merlin, Legend of the Seeker, Shannara Chronicles, etc. I binge watched every episode of the current six seasons... and was it worth it? Heck, yeah.
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You can imagine my silly annoyance when I discovered that season seven will come out during summer 2017. The producers of "Game of Thrones" (GOT) have forced me out of my short-lived addiction to my medieval fantasy. However, this listicle is made up of advice for first-years in college. If you are a GOT fan, this advice will make more sense to you and if you aren’t, you have many seasons to catch up on.
1. Winter is coming
For some reason, people take for granted that their colleges are located in the northeast region of the US. Snow is inevitable here, your best bet is its delay due to global warming. Arm yourself. Pack a “good” winter jacket; a cozy blanket for the coldest nights; some nice Timbs to keep you up when the force (gravitational force plus lack of friction on the ground) wants to pull you down, and some thermal gloves. In addition to wearing warm clothes, pack smartly. It will be very hectic on the last day when you will leave. Pack more needs, and fewer wants. Prepare yourself. Winter is coming.
2. Think outside of the wall.
Once you are physically admitted into campus life and the academic rigor, you will realize that your community is made up of a mixture of the rich, the poor, the working class, and the lingering continuum of a combination of all three. Some will consider themselves highborns because family background and some will not, vice versa. Think outside of the wall. Although GOT teaches us to not make a distinction between individuals because they were born on the unlucky side of the wall, try not to judge in a negative way. Don’t not be friends with someone because of your differences, instead connect with different people. If you are a duck, befriend a woodpecker: try not to limit yourself because of social classes, racial backgrounds, gender and sexual identification, etc.
3. Become a Daenerys -- don’t get burned
I think it is safe to say that you should be expected to fail at some point during your undergrad. You are not the best copy of yourself yet...not now and probably not the day after. It takes time to succeed, and for some, the process happens either quickly or slowly. Know your pace and do not be ashamed of it. Speaking for myself, I was butt hurt when I failed my first biology exam with a score of 65, but with the help of the TA’s (Minoli, Alex, and Daniel) and Lab Coordinator (Dr. Bone), I made it through the semester with a passing grade. For those who do not know Khaleesi, her body is immune to fire, which is why she is hailed as the Unburnt Queen of the Andals. Being resilient and bouncing back quicker and stronger is one of the few qualities that distinguish you from the rest. Professors know what you don’t know, and they will give you many opportunities to fail and excel. Don’t get burned.
4. Learn from the wars -- see people from other perspectives
A warg is a person with the ability to move their consciousness from their own body to other people or animals. Seeing things from another person’s POV is often difficult, especially when some are hammered that their beliefs are always right. However, I encourage everyone walk in the footsteps of another person’s experience. It is imperative to realize that every voice matters in discussions. Denying someone’s opinion cannot create a conversation, and without conversation learning cannot happen. Everyone should speak their mind and be corrected; each person should be given a chance to express themselves in the most positive light.
5. “Never forget what you are, the rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor and it can never be used to hurt you.” - Tyrion Lannister, the Imp and Half man.
Tyrion is one of the few cherished characters of GOT fans because he always knows the right things to say and he introduces politics as an appealing discussion. To many, he has a down-to-earth persona. The quote above was spoken to Jon Snow, who is not fully accepted into his family because he is a "bastard." Like so many, everyone has many titles -- good or bad. Some of them are deserving and some are not. However, learning to accept someone for their true identity is important, point blank. For those who do not know, Tyrion is a lord character born into a wealthy family and he is a dwarf. Just because you're the kid who has an unconventional style of dressing (with very bright shirts and polka dot shorts), it should not stop you from being who you are. Stand up to conforming when you are not comfortable.
So, if none of my advice makes sense to you -- the last piece of advice is to not be Joffrey, because if so this happens:
man running in forestPhoto by 
