3 things I wish I’d known before my freshman year
It’s that time: the start of college. For some, this is the first year. For me, it’s the last.
But I still remember that summer between high school and college when I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into. There were specific plans and ideas about what my college experience was going to be like. None of that worked out as planned, and, looking back, I’m glad it didn’t.
Things change, and you should be prepared for that. Here are three things I wish I had known before my freshman year. Use the mental health/ counseling resources available to you. You aren’t alone. That first night at college on the bottom bunk was memorable; I was scared and in a new place. There was homesickness that got better as I settled in. And though I continued to miss things from home, like a bigger bed and a hot, clean shower without having to wear rubber shoes to protect from who knows what on the floor, these weren’t the only reasons I felt down.
College students often struggle with more personal, more difficult mental battles than homesickness. People buckle under the internal and external pressures that come with college: the academic pressure to succeed and the social pressure to fit in. And these pressures are not confined to freshman year.
For me, there were breakdowns long after the days that required a map to figure out where all the buildings were on campus. Close friends steered me in the direction of campus counselors, which was important because talking — even if it’s just with a friend — helps. Don’t be afraid to take that extra step.
About 1 in 5 students used psychological services during their first year, according to the Higher Education Research Institute’s “Your First College Year” 2015 survey. It’s OK to change your mind about your major. I entered the fall of my freshman year ready to major in politics, philosophy and economics, in preparation for a law degree and an Atticus Finchesque future.
Things changed. You meet new people and discover new passions and interests.
It’s normal to be a little unsure of your plans once you start taking classes. So, don’t worry if you haven’t figured out exactly what you’re going to major in. It likely will change anyway. You’re there to get a degree and, later, a job, but a little fun won’t hurt. When my college days are long gone, I’m not going to remember the A’s I got on papers or the late nights spent studying.
Instead, memorable moments will include playing video games with my friend at 3 a.m. instead of writing a paper, and late-night Waffle House runs with my friends after a long night out — things that make for lifelong friends and memories.
Doing well is important inside the classroom, but there are also jobs, internships and other pressures. Employers weigh internships and employment during college more heavily than your GPA, according to a 2012 survey of employers by The Chronicle of Higher Education. Finding a balance of killing it in the classroom, getting internships and having fun with friends is important. You don’t want to burn out early. Only about 14 percent of respondents strongly agreed that they had achieved the friends versus academics balance, according to the “Your First College Year” survey.
The cliche is that college is the best four years of your life. Perhaps, for some. It can also be a stressful, messy period of self-exploration, discovery and half-baked ideas. But is it fun? No question.