This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UK chapter.
With more than 30,000 students on campus, it’s easy for a freshman at the University of Kentucky to feel intimidated. When I was a freshman, I felt like a little fish in a big pond; our campus is HUGE and there were so many people I didn’t know. Literally, thousands. As a senior, I can look back on my days as a freshman with equal feelings of nostalgia and embarrassment. Today, I’m no longer intimidated by the size of campus or the strangers I encounter, and I couldn’t be happier that I chose UK as the place to earn my degree. That being said, there are a few things I wish I had known when I started undergrad…
- It’s not necessary for you to wear your $waggy student ID lanyard. I actually never did this, so it’s hard for me to understand this strange phenomenon. I mean, what’s the purpose? You don’t want to lose your student ID? Well, news flash: you’re in college now, meaning you have to be responsible. You should be able to keep up with items without having them literally tied around your neck. The only thing your lanyard tells me is that you’re a freshman and a wee bit irresponsible.
- CHERISH OVIDS. Ovids is so wonderful and beautiful and amazing, and if you’re living on campus with a meal plan, you can get a crazy amount of food with just one meal swipe. Plus, the spicy chicken wraps are to die for! I’ve never lived on campus, but my friend once swiped me (though such acts of rebellion aren’t allowed anymore, what’s wrong with feeding your fam, Eli?) and I couldn’t believe the amount of food I was allowed to take with me. It’s like I had found heaven and it just so happened to have a Starbucks right next door. Speaking of which…
- Don’t blow all of your money at Starbucks. Starbucks is delicious, but it’s also crazy expensive. During my freshman year, I had a friend spend all of his Flex dollars on Starbucks before Midterms even arrived. Yikes! Keep what is absolutely necessary at the forefront of your mind. I promise a pumpkin spice latte isn’t one of them, though your sleep-deprived self might think so. Money management is a great thing to learn early on in college. Think about that the next time you’re sipping on a grande vanilla bean frappucino; is it really worth it?
- Willy T is your frenemy. I love our library, I really do. It’s a great place to do research and all of that cool stuff, but, depending on where you decide to do your studying, it can also be a huge distraction. If you really need to be productive, set up shop in a fourth floor cubicle. I’ve written all of my best papers on the fourth floor of Willy T. Whatever you do, DON’T GO TO THE FIFTH FLOOR if you REALLY want to do your work. Fifth floor of Willy T has been more of a social scene for me over the past four years. I get SOME work done there, but it’s never my first choice.
- Don’t be afraid to get a C. Remember that old saying “C’s get degrees?” While that is true, they don’t keep scholarships. That being said, I have never been more relieved than when I got my first C. I was absolutely terrified when I knew it was going to happen; I thought the world was ending and no one but me realized. However, amazingly, after the C became official, the world still revolved and the sun still came up and my parents still loved me. I’m not saying to make Cs a habit, but if a class is hard and you end up with a C, don’t worry about it. Things happen. After all, we can’t all have a 4.0.
- Enjoy yourself. UK has so much to offer. There are hundreds of groups who work hard to make your time on this campus enjoyable. Treasure every moment (and every event). Listen to interesting speakers that come to campus. Go to the fall and spring concerts. Eat somemidnight pancakes at CSF. Go to football games. Tailgate (responsibly). Enjoy our AMAZING men’s and women’s basketball teams. Check out our new soccer facility. Get your picture taken at the wildcat statue. There are so many opportunities right in front of you. Seize them.