Whether you attend a public university, private school, or community college, you are bound to go through the typical transitions and feelings that everyone goes through when they take that next step after high school graduation. College, along with everything it entails, can seem intimidating at first glance. The truth is college can be overwhelming at times, but it can also be exciting, refreshing, and, overall, a growing experience.
When you’re a freshman, most students live in some kind of dormitory, surrounded by individuals going through the same thing as them. This is also where most people have their first experience living with a roommate. Although college is an academic institution, it is also where a person can transition from a child to an adult without any serious consequences, hence adulting with a safety net.
For upperclassmen, the transition doesn’t just end after the conclusion of your freshman year. After freshman year, students move into apartments and houses, this is where many people learn to pay bills for the first time. You also learn the things that are not so black and white, like how to simultaneously balance your education, job, social life, and most importantly, personal time.
It’s easy to become stressed out trying to manage your different priorities, while still attempting to enjoy your college experience. This is why you need to surround yourself with like-minded individuals who have similar ambitions and goals. Friends are a colossal part of the college experience. Learning who you can trust and depend on can be hard at times, but you will always feel more comfortable knowing you have someone to call at 3 AM when there is an emergency.
Here are some things to know about college that no one has probably told you:
It’s perfectly fine to stay in on a Friday night
You might feel pressure to go out all the time, but sometimes staying in and putting on your favorite movie while applying your extensive skincare routine is just what you need to relax after a week of hard work.
Your college professors can help you more than you know if you just communicate with them.
Your professors are more than willing to help make your life easier, but you have to be the one to actually reach out. Professors and administrators can’t read minds, but they can be helpful in instances when you give them the tools to understand your current circumstances.
Working out does make you feel better
You’ve all heard that exercising benefits both the mind and the body, and as much as I hate to admit it, it’s true. Starting or ending your day working out can improve your mood drastically, even if it’s just yoga in your living room.
College is filled with life lessons, big and small, that all of you will endure at some point or another. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of the opportunities you have during those years, it’s a special time in your life where you can live and learn without regret.