It's Not That Bad
Every college student that I talked to my senior year of high school made college seem like an impossible ordeal that very few people came out of alive. As a current college freshman who just finished her first semester, I can honestly tell you that it is not that bad... at least after the first semester. Here are some things that I found to be true or useful.
1. Don't camp out in your dorm room. There is nothing in there that is captivating enough to make you never leave your room. Also your roommate will absolutely despise you if you are constantly there.
2. Dining halls suck you in. I can honestly tell you that the main color on the vast majority of plates that I have seen is brown. Students seem to lose all knowledge of the food pyramid in college and truly believe that their metabolisms can handle fried chicken, fried rice, fried vegetables, and fried ice cream all in one sitting. Do not be misled by this. You cannot eat 3,000 calories in one meal and expect good things to come out of it.
3. Join weird clubs. I am not Chinese, I do not have any Chinese ancestry, and I do not speak Chinese, but I think the culture is super cool so I joined a Chinese culture club. We watch Chinese monster movies and eat traditional foods. It's fantastic. Even if you aren't a club person (I scorned clubs in high school) at least give one a chance just to say you tried it.
4. Choose a like-minded school. If you're an outdoorsy person, don't go to school in downtown New York. You'll be sad and bored which is a terrible combination for a college student. Pick a school that focuses on the things that you enjoy doing or learning. You'll meet a lot of people who will inspire you to chase your dreams and are willing to help you along the way.
5. GO TO CLASS. I honestly can't stress this enough. I know everyone from your twice-removed aunt (who never actually went to college) to your unborn brother will tell you this, but they're right. You miss out on a lot when you skip class and it comes back to haunt you. It's fine if you're sick and genuinely can't make it but for god's sake, at least make an effort. Even if you show up in your pajamas, it's better than not going at all.
6. Do some form of exercise. I'm not saying that just so you can avoid the freshman fifteen but also because you'll be happier because of it. It's an awesome way to relieve stress and it makes you feel better about your body. Even if you just run screaming from one end of campus to the other, that counts.
7. Try not to kill yourself over grades. As long as you maintain a GPA that will get you where you want to go in life, you're fine. I got my first C+ ever this semester and I have never been more proud of a grade below an A. I know I'm not great at math and I really don't have to be for the path I want to take in life. It doesn't make you less intelligent if you get below an A. Know your weaknesses and embrace them because they make you stronger in the long run.
8. Get a job or internship. A job leads to connections and builds a stronger resume. It shows potential future employers that you know how to work, are willing to learn, and can multitask. They also provide a reprieve from the stress of school because you really can't focus on anything else while you're there. Internships let you see if the field that you're pursuing is for you. It's far easier to find out that you hate politics during your freshman year than your first day on a six-month campaign.
9. Have fun. Is this cheesy? Yes. Does everyone say it? Yes. Do I care? No. Go out and live on the weekends. Climb mountains and jump into lakes. Get to know your town and be a part of your community. It is incredibly rare to be at a point in your life where all you have to focus on is school. Embrace the freedom.
1. Don't camp out in your dorm room. There is nothing in there that is captivating enough to make you never leave your room. Also your roommate will absolutely despise you if you are constantly there.
2. Dining halls suck you in. I can honestly tell you that the main color on the vast majority of plates that I have seen is brown. Students seem to lose all knowledge of the food pyramid in college and truly believe that their metabolisms can handle fried chicken, fried rice, fried vegetables, and fried ice cream all in one sitting. Do not be misled by this. You cannot eat 3,000 calories in one meal and expect good things to come out of it.
3. Join weird clubs. I am not Chinese, I do not have any Chinese ancestry, and I do not speak Chinese, but I think the culture is super cool so I joined a Chinese culture club. We watch Chinese monster movies and eat traditional foods. It's fantastic. Even if you aren't a club person (I scorned clubs in high school) at least give one a chance just to say you tried it.
4. Choose a like-minded school. If you're an outdoorsy person, don't go to school in downtown New York. You'll be sad and bored which is a terrible combination for a college student. Pick a school that focuses on the things that you enjoy doing or learning. You'll meet a lot of people who will inspire you to chase your dreams and are willing to help you along the way.
5. GO TO CLASS. I honestly can't stress this enough. I know everyone from your twice-removed aunt (who never actually went to college) to your unborn brother will tell you this, but they're right. You miss out on a lot when you skip class and it comes back to haunt you. It's fine if you're sick and genuinely can't make it but for god's sake, at least make an effort. Even if you show up in your pajamas, it's better than not going at all.
6. Do some form of exercise. I'm not saying that just so you can avoid the freshman fifteen but also because you'll be happier because of it. It's an awesome way to relieve stress and it makes you feel better about your body. Even if you just run screaming from one end of campus to the other, that counts.
7. Try not to kill yourself over grades. As long as you maintain a GPA that will get you where you want to go in life, you're fine. I got my first C+ ever this semester and I have never been more proud of a grade below an A. I know I'm not great at math and I really don't have to be for the path I want to take in life. It doesn't make you less intelligent if you get below an A. Know your weaknesses and embrace them because they make you stronger in the long run.
8. Get a job or internship. A job leads to connections and builds a stronger resume. It shows potential future employers that you know how to work, are willing to learn, and can multitask. They also provide a reprieve from the stress of school because you really can't focus on anything else while you're there. Internships let you see if the field that you're pursuing is for you. It's far easier to find out that you hate politics during your freshman year than your first day on a six-month campaign.
9. Have fun. Is this cheesy? Yes. Does everyone say it? Yes. Do I care? No. Go out and live on the weekends. Climb mountains and jump into lakes. Get to know your town and be a part of your community. It is incredibly rare to be at a point in your life where all you have to focus on is school. Embrace the freedom.
Excellent advise Katie. You should think about sending this to your old high school paper. I would have liked to have read something like this when I was preparing for my secondary education.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I might just do that
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