You are starting to enter a new chapter of your life. You are going off to college to pursue a higher education to boost your career and your future. The rest of your life starts now, and that can be a little scary. Here are some things that you should know as you start your first year of college.
Don’t Overpack
When moving away from home, it is easy to want to pack up every single thing that you own and bring it with you. You may never know what you might need right? Let me make it easy for you, you do not need every last decoration, photo album, blanket and sock that is in your childhood bedroom. The dorm rooms are small and you are sharing a space with other people, so there will not be room for all of your belongings. It is best to pack the necessities first because those alone will take up a lot of space.
Put Yourself Out There
When you are thrown into a brand new environment with strangers, it can be a little intimidating and even scary. You may want to take a step back and hide in your room, but that will do more harm than good in the long run. Do not be shy. Talk to people. everyone else is also new and just as scared as you are, so do not be intimidated. We are all trying to figure it out as we go, so why not make friends along the way?
Make Friends
Make an effort to make friends. This is really important in the first couple weeks of school. The people you become friends with could turn out to be lifelong friends. Making friends in your classes will give you people to study with and help you through your tough courses. Be friendly to everyone you meet. The girl who sits next to you in your gen ed math class could turn out to be your lifelong bestie.
Go To Class
Not having your parents nagging you about going to school and taking you there themselves and dragging you to class with an inch of your life, it can be easy to skip class because you just don’t feel like it. Do not get into this habit. You are paying a lot of money to get your college education. If you do not go to class, your grades will start to suffer. The last thing you will want to do is drop a class because your grade was too low due to lack of participation.
Don’t Stay Up All Hours Of The Night
College means freedom. You are finally on your own. You make your own rules and are no longer living under your parents roof. You can do whatever you want, whenever you want. But with this freedom, comes a lot of responsibility. You are now expected to be an adult and make wise decisions. Partying and staying out til 4:00 A.M. when you have an 8:00 A.M class the next day is not a wise decision. Be smart with your decisions and actions before you do something you regret. Think of how your decisions might affect you or the people around you later on.
Eat (But Not Too Much)
Living the college lifestyle can get crazy busy at times. Sometimes you may even forget to eat. You will be so busy working, going to class, and doing homework when all of a sudden it is 4:00 and you haven’t eaten a morsel of food. Make sure you are eating and eating healthy. Your body needs fuel to function. However, do not eat too much! The freshman 15 is very real and it is very easy to gain weight when you are eating whatever you want, whenever you want, so be careful with what you choose to feed your body.
College will be the most exciting and fun experience of your life, but it is also very difficult. These are just a few tips that I have learned from experience when I was a freshman in college, so I hope you keep these tips in mind when you start your new adventure as a college student. I hope your college experience is absolutely extraordinary! Be sure to make the most of every moment and live your life to the fullest. You are young and deserve to have fun!
