10 Things I’ve Learned During My First 10 Weeks of College

Change isn’t always easy, especially such a huge lifestyle change like college. I’m from South Carolina, so about six hours away from UA. I expected to miss my family, but to be honest with you, leaving them was one of the hardest things I’ve done. I didn’t realize just how much I’d miss them until random times during the day. For example, on my third day at college, I was trying to open a jar and immediately turned around out of habit to ask my dad for help-only to be met with an empty kitchen behind me. I was so used to going to the grocery store with my mom on Sundays, and when I ran out of the groceries they bought me, I was literally crying in the aisles of Target thinking about how bad I wish I had her by my side. It wasn’t that I wasn’t capable of doing things on my own, but rather that the change in my life was so big, and I was still learning to adjust to it. 

As I said, I’m from out-of-state, so I knew no one coming into college. The majority of my friends from high school went to in-state colleges, so I was essentially alone in the college process. Now, two of my roommates are from Alabama, but one of them is from New Jersey. The three of them have become my best friends, along with another girl from New Jersey and one from Connecticut. It’s crazy to think that had we all not chosen the University of Alabama, I never would have met them, and now I can’t even begin to imagine my life without them. Leaving my family was hard, but meeting my “new family” in Tuscaloosa was so easy.

I didn’t have strict parents growing up, but they still guided me in the right direction, helped me make decisions, and told me “no” when necessary. Once I got to college, they were still just a phone call away, but I was making everyday decisions 100% on my own. Should I go out with my friends, or should I stay in and study for that bio exam I have in two days? Of course I knew what I WANTED to do, but I also knew what I should do, too. Having self control and awareness is an extremely important skill in college, and something I sometimes have to FORCE myself to do for the sake of my grades.

You are so much more than anyone’s opinion of you, especially a boy (or girl) who you just met in college. You are strong, you are beautiful, and you are so, so worthy of love and happiness, regardless of how someone else makes you feel. Please remember this. 

One of the best decisions I have made thus far in college is to start saying “yes” more often. My roommates and I try to say yes when anyone asks to hang out or come over, and we have met some of our best friends this way. In high school, I was rarely spontaneous, and always had a set plan. In college, I have literally decided to drive to a whole different state 20 minutes before actually leaving to do so. In making this change, I have made some of the BEST memories of my life, just in ten short weeks. 

This is a lesson for anyone to learn, even outside of college. I quickly realized how easy it is to get overwhelmed in college. I’m a member of the Honors College as well as the STEM to MBA program here at Alabama, so as you can imagine, my course load got a lot heavier than it was in high school. I joined a sorority, which I love, but this also added obligations to my plate. On top of all of this, I was still coping with being six hours away from home. I’m telling you all of this to say, although college comes with so many fun opportunities and memories, it’s also very likely that you will feel overwhelmed along with other negative emotions… and that is okay. My best advice is to start prioritizing YOU and what makes YOU happy. At the end of the day, you’re the one who has to deal with how you feel and the mindset that you have. 

Coming from a professional procrastinator, I am BEGGING, try your best to get this habit under control. I cannot tell you how many times in the past ten weeks I have told myself, “Oh, it’s fine. I can do it later. I have plenty of time.” Believe me when I say, you do NOT have plenty of time!!! The amount of times I have been stressing at 11:37pm over something due at 11:59pm is ridiculous and unhealthy. Just at least try and make a schedule each week that allows you to get your work done in a timely manner. It will relieve so much stress and most likely also improve your grades.

Even during my college decision process, there were multiple group chats full of prospective students. This helped me get a feel for who was planning on attending each college I applied to, so I could decide where I thought I’d fit in best. As a student, it’s important to stay connected and get involved in multiple social groups and events (without overwhelming yourself). The best way to do that is through the IRL app, a group messaging social network that brings people together through groups, events, and community engagement. With this app, you can IRL chat with, plan and discover events with your friends. That way, you can connect with other students who have similar interests and goals, which is crucial during your first few months of college.

Colleges have hundreds and hundreds of organizations to get involved in, and I highly suggest taking advantage of these opportunities. I never knew how specific these organizations could get either, which is what makes them so interesting and fun. Personally, I joined a medical society as well as an eating disorder awareness club, as both are things I am passionate about. I encourage you to look through club catalogs or go to club fairs to see what clubs your school offers. Getting involved certainly helped me get over the homesickness, as well as meet many more friends with similar interests as me.

As cheesy as it sounds, these past ten weeks have flown by. I feel like just yesterday I was moving all of my things into Pres 1 and nervous to start a new life in Tuscaloosa. I can genuinely say that choosing the University of Alabama has been my best decision thus far. I have made so many new friends and memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I encourage you, no matter what point you are at in your life (high school, college, or beyond) to take time each day to reflect on the good moments, the lessons you’ve learned, and the things you are grateful for each day. I am so thankful to have 3 ½ more years in college, but I already have a feeling they will be over way too soon.