Ahhh college: the mystical, magical place you have been dreaming of since May 1st, when you’re parents sent in your deposit. A true fairytale land in your mind. “College will be the greatest time of your life!”, they all say, and, take it from me, they are right. But there are lots of things people neglect to tell you about the college experience that can take that fantasy of the magical place in your mind, and shut it down real fast. The truth is, college will be the best times of your life, but there are lots of things you don’t know about it yet, and the only way to learn about them is through experience. So even though you won’t understand them until you live through them, I can at least give you a fair warning of five things you’re going to learn about college the hard way.
1.You actually need to read
In high school, it’s so easy to skip out on reading your chapter and still ace the quiz later that week. In college, however, that’s not the case. The truth is, professors don’t go over every little thing on the exam, and take most of the content straight from the depths of the textbook. So, if you’re going to pass Bio, you’re not only going to need to read, but read the chapter before class to give yourself a better understanding of the content. Also, you realistically spent a lot of money on this textbook, so put it to good use or you’ll have basically spent $250.00 to have a huge block on your desk that does nothing but collect dust.
2. It’s hard to wake up for class
Like, harder than anything you could ever imagine. Honestly, waking up for class is probably going to be harder than the actual class you are waking up for. Even though you were able to get up at 6:30 AM five days a week for the past 12 years of your life, you’ll never be able to get up for your class that doesn’t start until 9:40. I don’t know why, no one does, it’s just a fact. So get used to rolling out of bed, grabbing whatever food is in your dorm, and running to class in a t-shirt you haven’t washed since you slept in it the past week. It’s part of the true college experience, really.
3.You do not have to go out every night
Honestly, you don’t even have to go out every weekend. I know the entire world makes it seem like college is all about frat parties and beer pong, but that’s really not the case. College is about making new friends, having new and exciting experiences and, oh yeah…getting an education! The fact is, you’re here to get a degree, not break the keg stand record at the football house. Don’t get me wrong, going out is fun and it’s a great way to make memories, but if you’d rather sit in your sweatpants and watch Finding Nemo on Saturday night, then do it. Some of the greatest nights you’ll ever have will be spent in your dorm with your friends. Don’t force yourself out if you’re just not feeling it that night, no one’s gonna judge you. And, if they are, those are not the kind of people you want in your life anyways.
4.Living with a roommate is not an easy task
I don’t know about you guys, but I was very lucky to have been blessed with my own room since I was about 7 years old. Needless to say, coming to college and having to share a bedroom with one other person, and a bathroom with 15, was a very hard adjustment. The fact of the matter is, sharing space sucks. Maybe there isn’t room for all of your clothes, or you like to stay up late while your roomie is in bed at 9pm. Maybe her side is constantly dirty and her laundry is starting to smell. Whatever it may be, adjusting to living with someone else in the room the size of a cubicle is not an easy task. Suddenly, you have so little space that you use your desk as a vanity, a place for your utensils, a table to eat on, and, at some point, where you’ll probably take a nap. It sucks, and it’s really hard, but you’ll get through it. Just remember to be respectful of each other, and that lots of compromises must be made so no one has a mental breakdown.
5.You’re going to miss your parents
A LOT. Even though it’s cool to hate your parents when you’re 15, when you’re 20, you’ll regret it. After being on your own for an extended period of time, you’ll start to realize how much your parents actually did for you, (cook, clean, pay for your clothes, etc.), and you begin to appreciate them so much more. You even begin to miss them. Those annoying jokes your dad used to tell, that would normally make you roll your eyes, will actually make you giggle, and you’re going to miss your mom making you pancakes on Sunday mornings. But guess what? That’s okay. It’s hard to get dropped off at school and just expected to survive without the two people who have literally been helping you stay alive since birth. And, now that they can’t be here to tell you what to do, you’ll start to see that your parents are more like your cool, older friends. So call your mom and dad every week to check in. You’ll be thanking me later.
College isn’t a fairtale, it’s life, and just like everything else in life, it has its ups and downs. Just go with the flow, and you’ll be sure to have the most amazing college experience you possibly can.