It's almost mid-August and you can't wait to start college. It'll be the first time you're really on your own, and as scary as it sounds it's the best time of your life. You're about to have the best four years of your life. These are a few pieces of advice I wish I heard before starting college.
As a freshmen, you don't know anything. Seriously. You don't know where the laundry room is, where your classes are, places around campus or really anyone on campus. It sounds really scary, but within time you'll get the hang of it. You'll get used to the campus, the surroundings, and the friends that you make. That's when your friends become your family and you campus becomes your home.
While all of that's happening, you'll try to stay in touch with your friends from back home and it's going to be hard, but it's going to test your friendships. You'll find out who's meant to be in your life and who isn't. This is totally normal. People just lose touch and slowly drift apart, and yeah it's sad, but they're not in your life for a reason. It's hard to accept it and it won't happen to all of your friends, but college will show you who belongs in your life.
You'll meet a lot of new people and you'll probably meet someone special and want a relationship with them. There's nothing wrong with a relationship in college in any way, just make sure you know the person before jumping into anything and make sure you know what you want in a relationship. Try to get to know the person as best as you can; what they like, what they don't like, the little things they like, all that cute stuff. But make sure that you know what you want in a partner and make sure that this person has what you want. College is not the place to waste time on someone who makes you unhappy.
College parties. They happen and they are fun, but just be careful. Know your limits, try to stay with people you know, and remember you probably have class the next day. Parties are fun, but don't do things that you'll regret. Not remembering how you got back to your dorm isn't a fun feeling. And do not forget that you're in college to learn. The college experience is important, but your degree is principal.
The friends you make, the dorms you stay in, the places you go, will all start to feel like home to you. Your college will become your home. You will miss your college on your breaks. You'll want summer to end sooner so you can go back to your campus.
This is all stuff I've learned since my freshman year and I'm only a sophomore now. I know I still have a lot more to learn, but this is advice that I wish I knew when I started my freshman year.
