Welcome to College: Lessons Learned from the First Year of College
So, you’re getting ready to leave for your first year of college. YAY!
People say high school is the best four years of your life, but I disagree. I’ve only finished one year of my undergrad college process, but it’s already shaping up to be much better than my four years in high school.
College is the time that you start learning who you really are and who you want to become. You’re probably coming into your first year with a list of things you like and things you don’t like. That list will probably change, quickly. You might have your future all planned out, or maybe you have no idea what the future holds for you yet. That’s okay. You’ll figure that out, and it will probably change a couple times too.
You’re going to be scared and excited at the same time. You’re going to get really homesick for a while, and then one day, you just won’t be anymore. You’ll start referring to your dorm room as home. You’ll start referring to your friend group as your family, because they’ll become your extended family. They’re going to be the ones you live with every weekend; the ones you go to with every problem; the ones you get into trouble with; the ones that you adventure with. You’re going to make so many memories with them, good and bad.
But here’s the thing, your first year is going to be terrifying! But only in the beginning. You’re going to be stressed beyond your comprehension. You’re probably going to stress eat all the time. You’re going to tell yourself that you’ll go to the gym to work it off, but you probably won’t because sleeping and finishing homework is a little more important. You’re probably going to gain a few pounds, but that’s totally okay, everyone does (the freshman 15 is real).
You’re going to think you won’t make friends, but you will! And they will be the best friends you’ve ever had. You’ll like your roommate for about a week before you start getting to know them and their living habits. Then, you’ll probably find a lot of reasons why you don’t like them, or more reasons why you do like them. Even if you love them, they’re going to become like a sibling; you can only handle them in small doses, and you’ll need some space apart every now and then.
You’ll probably be judged all the time because that’s what strangers do. But you’ll get used to it, and you won’t care because you’ll be judging other people too. At some point, you’ll probably talk to that kid who looks like a total crazy person and realize that he/she is actually a really amazing person.
You’re going to stay up a lot later than you intend to just to get work done. You will pull an all-nighter, or twenty, at some point to finish essays or projects. You’re going to start drinking a lot of coffee even if you hate the stuff to help you stay up for those all-nighters too, or you’ll find an alternative caffeine source.
You’re going to have professors and classes that you just cannot stand. Do not give up on them. No matter how much you hate it, you only have the class for one semester, then you’re done. So you might not get a fantastic grade in the class if you don’t know what’s going on, but if you seek help, you can pass the class and be done with it. Go to your professors’ office hours and talk to them if you’re really having problems with the class. The professor might even like you a little more if they see you’re putting in the extra effort to come see them. On the flip side, you’re also going to have professors and classes that you love. You’re going to realize that a class you thought you were going to hate, you really love. You’re going to really hate 8AM classes, but they’re not all bad. If you have all of your classes in the morning, you have all afternoon to relax, nap, or work on stuff. Don’t be afraid to work ahead; you’ll get your syllabus in each class that will lay out your course schedule, use it! At some point you’re going to be swamped, and you’ll thank yourself for being on top of things. Do NOT procrastinate. That might have been okay in high school, but you’ll have way too much work to put all of it off until the last minute. Whether you realize it or not, you’re going to gain a lot of knowledge in and out of the classroom.
Finals and midterms are not as bad as you might think. You just need to mentally prepare yourself for them. You’re going to need to study, obviously, but don’t stress yourself out to the point where you can’t study. You need to keep a clear mind to retain the information you’re cramming into your brain. You also need to sleep the night before your finals or midterms. Your body cannot function properly if you don’t get enough sleep.
If you qualify for work-study, it can actually be an amazing opportunity. Even if you don’t qualify for work-study, an on-campus job can be a great way to start build a foundation for the future. There are so many different possibilities for jobs on-campus. On-campus jobs can be a lot of fun and give you valuable knowledge and skills. Sometimes, you can get a job that pertains to your major that will help you gain experience and help you decide if the major you’ve chosen is right for you. I know, it seems crazy to have a job on top of all your actually coursework, but it’s really not that bad. Once you get into the swing of things, you’ll be glad to have a job so you have something to do while your friends are still in class.
All this stuff put together will ultimately lead you to deciding whether you love your school or you hate it. If you hate it, don’t be afraid to transfer. Don’t let yourself get stuck in a place you’re unhappy or uncomfortable in. This is your life and your future; you need to be happy wherever you are. If you love it, you’re probably going to want to show some school spirit (Please beware and prepare yourself for the campus bookstore; college apparel can be really expensive). You can’t be afraid to get involved in your school community because this will be your home for the next four years. There are so many sports teams and clubs you can join. You can find a club for almost anything you’re interested in, and if there isn’t a club for it, you can start one. It’s college; the sky really is the limit here.
Keep an open mind. You’re going to experience a lot of new things, and you can’t be afraid to embrace them. College is going to be an adjustment. This is going to be different from almost anything you’ve ever experienced. Just don’t let yourself be discouraged. If you struggle with anything, seek help. Don’t be ashamed to admit when you need help whether that is with academics, physical or mental health, or even socially because college will test your limits.
But listen to me when I say this: you’ve got this. You can do it. You’re going to make it through this even if you struggle, and you’re going to realize what an amazing feat you've just accomplished. You’ve already taken one of the hardest steps, the first one; the first step towards college and the first step to starting your future.
Congratulations and good luck. I’m rooting for you!
Ellie Mummert is a graduate of Biglerville High school and is now a sophomore at Susquehanna University. She is studying early childhood/elementary education with a minor in psychology.
