10 Things I Wish I Knew Freshman Year

Everyone knows how difficult it is to leave behind their puppy, their annoying siblings, their boyfriend, their best friends and of course their moms home cooked meals. What makes it even harder is that you have to say goodbye for not just a couple weeks but a couple months. It does gets easier as the years go by, I wouldn’t lie to you.

1.     You will make tons of mistakes – you don’t know what you’re walking into when you start your freshman year. You’re probably not going to study and you’re more likely than not going to have to D/F repeat a course because this isn’t high school anymore. You’ll probably become friends with people who you shouldn’t be friends with and you’ll probably fall for someone you shouldn’t have fallen for but what would life be if we didn’t make mistakes? Just try your best to avoid them.

2.     Expect yourself to change – these aren’t your high school friends anymore, you didn’t grow up with these people and you might not find friends who are similar to the ones you’re used to. You might turn into the ultimate sorority girl, you might become a gym rat or you might be a nerd. Change is good and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

3.     Your “true love” may not really be your true love – you’re going to love a lot and get hurt a lot. You’re going to cry over the boy who “broke your heart” senior year or you’re going to lose your high school sweetheart because the distance is too hard. Regardless, you’ll find your true love eventually but to get to that point there will be tears and there will be late night ice cream runs with your best friends. Embrace it and please learn from it! Your prince charming is out there waiting for you.

4.     It’s okay to go places alone – you can eat in the dining hall alone, you don’t need to starve yourself. It’s okay to run to the lair for food, alone. College is all about independence.

5.     It’s okay to grow apart from your high school friends – but I promise, you’ll stick with your best friend. Nothing can affect that friendship. There will definitely be a few that will always check in on you and will definitely invite you to their wedding but you’re going to mature in an incredible way once you get to college and it’s okay to grow apart from everyone but your bff.

6.     People will always let you down – not everyone is your friend because you’re all mountaineers. There is no one in this world that won’t let you down except yourself. Do not be dependent on others, ever!

7.     You’re going to fight with your parents, A LOT – they’re going to tell you to join a club and you’re going to tell them no and you won’t talk for a couple days because what can they do? Ground you? Nope. It’s easy to ignore them now but they will forever think they know what’s best for you so just hear them out and tell them you’ll take what they’re saying into consideration (then never take it into consideration).

8.     Don’t stay in – you will have plenty of weekends that you can stay in with your husband or when you start your first job in the big girl world and you are just exhausted. So take these 4 years to live a little and you can relax after you hear your name called at graduation.

9.     Save your money when you can – your friends will still be your friends even if you don’t go to Los with them every Friday night and please learn from my mistakes and do everything in your power to not stop at casa on your walk home, it’s not worth the 3 bucks or the calories (jk it’s worth the calories). Take any chance you get to make some money!

10.  Have fun – you will remember these 4 years for the rest of your life. Join a sorority, study abroad, and find the boy you plan on marrying. Enjoy yourself because you’re young and you’re beautiful and college is a crazy rollercoaster so enjoy the ride.

• wvu