As my senior year quickly approaches me, I sit here and think about all of the things I wish I knew freshman year coming to JMU. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved every moment I’ve spent at JMU, and I’m lucky enough to still have one more year here. I couldn’t be happier with my college experience, but if I could tell freshman me seven tips, here’s what they would be:
1. Embrace freshman year. It flies by in the flash of your eyes, but trust me, you’ll never have another year quite like it. From microwavable mac-n-cheese to dirty frat parties, you’ll be ready to leave those cramped dorms come May. Still, you’ll miss your freshman year more than you’ll realize.
2. Take your time in figuring out where you want to live after freshman year, and whom you want to live with. It’ll make your life easier down the road to get it right the first time.
3. Life gets better after gen-eds. Gen-eds will be some of the most difficult classes you take because you’re simply not interested. You’ll figure out what you’re passionate about and classes will get better from there.
4. Downtown Harrisonburg actually has a lot more to offer than it appears. From local coffee shops to boutiques, craft stores to the farmer’s market, yoga studios to breweries, farm to table brunch with authentic food, and live music, downtown Harrisonburg is a very fun place to hang.
5. It’s okay to have no idea what you want to major in. You have time and trust me, you’ll figure it out.
6. JMU has a ton of resources to take advantage of. From the nap nook in Festival and the peaceful Arboretum to the tutoring centers, the comfort dogs and the massage chairs in the counseling center of SSC, JMU has a lot of free and convenient resources to use.
7. Each semester will fly by sooner than the one before. Your time goes by fast so enjoy each moment.
That being said, get ready for the best four years of your life. It’ll be a time of transformation, improvement, learning and growing. You’ll find the best of friends and soon enough, you won’t be able to imagine life without them.
From a soon-to-be solemn senior of the best university,
Jessica