College is exciting! It's a new place with new people, new experiences, and new opportunities galore! You get to pursue a subject that you're passionate about while making some life-long friends, so what could go wrong?
Well, as I've come to find out- a whole lot.
First off, college sucks some days. It's just like life- there will be days where you wake up and not one single thing goes your way. Your dorm room's AC broke, your alarm didn't go off for your 8am class (yes, attendance was mandatory), it's raining (for maybe the sixth day in a row), you forgot about a huge test in your 12:30 class, and everyone seems to be texting you asking for advice about their problems.
Second, you may not find out exactly where you fit in the community right away. You may get rejected from every single organization you seek out membership of, and you may find that you're not connecting with any of your peers regardless of what you do or say. You may have days, weeks, or even months where you just feel out of place (even if you do find yourself a part of tons of organizations!)
Third, you may realize that you don't actually know why you're in college. You may figure out you don't seem to have a passion for any one subject or area, and you may feel like you're just wasting time, money, and resources on someone else's dream. It may seem as though you're taking classes that have absolutely nothing to do with what you're interested in or what you could see yourself doing in the future.
And when or if these aforementioned realizations hit you like a ton of bricks, try to keep this advice in mind: nothing lasts forever.
Yes, college may suck in this moment or today or for a little while, but that doesn't mean it always will. There are some days where everything goes wrong, but let me tell you there are also days where everything goes right. And boy, are those worth waiting for. You'll wake up and everything seems to slip into place, from your compliment-grabbing outfit to your perfectly executed speech that you've been nervous about for weeks. The funny thing is, you can never really be sure when a good or bad day or strike, so you have to practice the courage to brave either one. Ultimately, that's just life- being patient and leaning into the good days when you have the opportunity to experience them, and reminding yourself that a bad day is only that- a day!
Up next, if you just feel like you don't fit in, that's okay! Most people don't feel completely normal all the time, but some of us just get really good at hiding it. But eventually, we all find those people that we don't have to pretend around, and it's one of the most freeing experiences of all time. The best way to bond with the people around you is to be vulnerable and most likely they'll be honest in return- and you might get a friend out of it! Additionally, if you don't seem to get a membership in any of the clubs or organizations you wanted, don't stop trying! Sometimes it takes more than a few tries before we find ourselves a part of something we genuinely care about being in. When you do finally earn a place in said organization, don't forget to encourage the people behind you, you may be the only one to do so.
Lastly, something I've learned fairly recently (I accredit it partially to the fact that I'm undeclared) is that "passion" is an allusive thing, and it's not the only thing we should be striving for. Ultimately, passion for an idea, project, or path is going to come from an individual's measured success within that realm. So all you can do is get out there and try things- new things, "boring" things, "crazy" things. See what you're good at, and if it makes you feel good, keep doing it! Passion for these things will come naturally with time, experience, and hard work.
College is ultimately what you make it, but also keep in mind that some things are going to be out of your control. Don't let this stop you from trying to make every day a good one, and never forget to take care of yourself. Figure out your needs, your boundaries, and how you need to recharge- these skills will come in handy in the middle of the busiest week of your life when you feel like you're drowning in a million assignments, meetings, projects, and relationships.
From one college freshman to another, good luck! (Also, coffee is that good.)
