For college freshmen, don’t forget to enjoy it
Incoming college freshmen get lots of advice, and the majority of it can become repetitive: Go to the counselor office hours; participate in extracurriculars; facilitate relationships with your professors; put yourself out there, etc.
Although these tips are all helpful, during my last summer before I headed off to college, these words of wisdom began to blur together as people told me the same things over and over. It seems to me that often when people are giving this type of advice, it tends to be a reflection on what they might have done better in their time as a college student.
Having just completed my first year at college, the advice that I’ve found most helpful was from students who had gone through it recently and who still recall what it takes to make the pressure of living on your own slightly less terrifying. Here are five tips that may help you as you head off to college for the first time.
Don’t be the bad roommate. It can be hard to live with a total stranger, especially if he or she happens to be loud or messy. Keep in mind that communicating what you are and what you are not is OK to do early on, and can help to avoid uncomfortable situations later. You’re most likely going to have to live with this person for the entire year, so tread carefully, because you don’t want conflict in the place you’ll be going to unwind. All it takes is a quick text to ask your roommate if he or she is OK with you having company, for example. Have the courtesy to take that extra step.
Don’t study in your room. There’s another person living there and, as comfortable as your bed is, you probably won’t get much done with all the distractions.
Don’t watch TV. Unless you’re watching it with friends, there’s no reason to hide away and close yourself off from the world. You will be enrolled at a school full of students doing interesting things that will be much more worth your time than that next episode. Go out and talk to the first person you encounter. Everyone else wants friends just as much as you do.
Orientation is more important than you think. Most people find their group of friends within the first week of school. Even though this will be the scariest time for a lot of freshmen, make sure you’re connecting with people other than your roommate. Orientation can help you do that.
Enjoy the education you are receiving. We all know how expensive college is, and we all want to do well, but make sure you don’t take away from what you’re learning by stressing too much. It’s unlikely that anyone is going to ask you what your grade was in Anthropology 100 during your freshman year, so do the best you can and make sure that you enjoy the experience of learning.
College is the time to explore what you love and what you want to do with your life, especially in your first year. Take that random art or music class, or, if you see a class or program that draws you in, try it out. Who knows what you might end up learning?