What I Learned Freshman Year of College

College can seem scary but I promise it isn't.  I went in to my first year relatively naive, though I thought I was fully prepped.  Here is what I learned my freshman year of college.

1. Don't take yourself too seriously

Even if you go to a tiny college or university, chances are most people do not care what you are doing at any given moment.  I don't mean this as a bad thing but the world most certainly does not revolve around you.  Take that as an opportunity!  Be you and disregard other people's judgments.  It is okay to laugh obnoxiously loud at your friend's joke or dance wildly in your dorm hallway.  That time you fell going up the stairs (speaking from experience) is only going to be remembered by you.  Everyone else is also wearing sweatpants to their 9 AM.  Learn to lighten up and life will be considerably more fun.  

2. That being said... take school seriously

College cost major $$$$.  Should it? That is a talk for another time. So while it does, take it seriously.  Maybe you glided through high school with absolutely no issues or struggles, but even the "easiest" college major will challenge you.  The sciences will challenge your logic and the arts will challenge your creativity.  Don't blow this off and waste your time and money.  Study harder than you ever have before and no matter what your grades are, you will at least know you tried your best.  

3. Burnout is absolutely real

While you have to study hard, you also have to nap hard.  Netflix and naps were my study time saviors when I needed breaks.  If you overwork yourself you can pretty much kiss those hours of studying away because a tired mind is a nonfunctional mind.  If your friends ask you to grab fries and you are on your 5th hour of studying. . . grab some fries! Literally grab them and then eat them and then hop back on the study train.  

4. Treat your body well

Those fries are most certainly an essential asset to the college experience. . . but maybe not every night.  Taking care of yourself is key to having a good year.  Eat a healthy meal at least once a day.  Maybe don't reach for that second row of cookies (someone remind me of this next year).  See if your school offers fitness classes for credit.  When your grades go hand in hand with your workouts it is amazing how much your motivation can increase.  

5. Keep your dorm clean

My room at home is a war zone.  My dorm however, was generally pretty free of ground laundry and scattered papers.  I found that with such a small space, keeping it clean was a big part of keeping your home-base, stress free.  Clutter can make it feel crowded and even smaller than it really is, so make sure to take some time out of each day to pick up.  This can even work well with point 3 if you clean your room to take a break from work.  I normally cleaned at 11pm but hey it got done.  

6. Call you parents 

They really wanna talk to you, trust me.  Your mother or father will almost never be bothered that you called them to tell them you saw a really cool bird or ate a really good chicken nugget.  Unless its at 1am.  Do not call your parents at 1am unless it is an emergency.  They most definitely will not appreciate that.  

7.  Don't buy plants you can't take care of

RIP Bastian the Basil Plant 

I should've known my dorm was too dark and cold for you

December 2018-January 2019

8.  Save your money for rainy days

Bringing spending money to college is essential but don't waste it all because you feel like it.  When it is a sad, rainy day and you realize you have spent way too much in the past few weeks, you'll be really sad.  Keep it in your wallet until retail therapy is a necessity. 

9. Learn to move on

Sometimes your high school friends are exactly that-- high school friends.  If you and your old buddies are still close, good for you! If you have drifted apart though, don't feel bad.  It happens to almost everyone as they grow up and change throughout college.  Staying stuck on friends of the past can leave you feeling miserable, when really it is just a part of life that everyone goes through.  Realize why that person was good for you at that point in your life, and understand why the people you are friends with now are good for this part of your life.  You grow through what you go through (thanks Ben Platt).

10.  Don't compare yourself to others

I wrote about this in a separate post but it remains true and is one of the hardest lessons I learned/am still learning.  With thousands of kids on campus it is easy to compare yourself to some of them and wonder if you are doing enough.  The pre-med kids who study hours on their chem exams can make it feel like I am not going to college for the right reasons.  The kids who get cast in show after show can make it feel like I am not enough for theatre.  Then I realize, I am on my own path that I am very content with.  I did not come to school for med, I came to perform and learn how to communicate, and I am doing exactly that.  Everyone has their own life paths, so follow your own without care of what others are doing.  

11. Expand your social circle 

College is the place to meet new people that you might've otherwise ignored in high school.  This past year, when asked to hang out with different groups of people, I almost never said no.  I have so many great new friends because of always staying open to invites.  This isn't high school, there is no such thing as popularity in college (unless you're a star athlete I guess) so just do you and meet people you might not have gotten to know before.



Sorry this went over 10 but I had to add that last one.  I have another list from last semester that touches on some lessons you may have thought I overlooked.  I plan to write more this summer and I apologize for my absence these past few months.  (Please excuse the reused pictures, I swear I have been uber busy)

Much Love,
Samantha Rose