College has been, well… college. I’m not sure exactly what I expected before I graduated high school, given the plethora of movies that depict this totally unrealistic yet seemingly achievable lifestyle of the average college student. Parties every weekend, football games and tailgates, and who could forget: romance.
I’d dreamed of finally getting out of my house, seeing the world (as if dorming a few hours from home was “the world”) and getting out from under my mom’s authoritarian rule. And it was fun when I finally saw the back of her car driving further and further away when she left me in front of my building. I was finally free!
Looking back at this moment in present time, I wish my mom had told me a few things before departing and leaving me to figure out things I should’ve definitely known. Not to dig on her parenting skills, she’s a lovely lady; but, here are some things I wish she told me.
- “Sweetheart, don’t spend all your money on useless things within the first two weeks of college.” Yeah, do you really need those new pair of Nike sneakers? Do you really need another wig to add to your collection? More makeup? No, you don’t. Saving money is especially important now that you can no longer ask mommy and daddy for money. Instead, invest in a savings account and take advantage of any work study or student assistant opportunities in order to not go broke after one month in school.
- “Honey, eating pizza and burgers from the dining hall at midnight is not a good habit to have.” Yes, freshman 15 is not a myth. No, just because it is all you can eat doesn’t mean you should eat all you can. The USDA suggests the average person eat 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit and 2 to 3 cups of vegetables a day, and no, French fries do not count as a vegetable.
- “Don’t look for love your first semester of college, pumpkin.” People can smell vulnerability from miles away, especially when it comes to freshman. If you’re looking for the perfect partner as soon as you step foot on campus, don’t. You should take the time (if still single) to dip your feet and get accustomed to the way the school works before jumping into anything serious. Plus, it’s your first semester! Focus on classes and figuring out where the cozy study spots are in the library because guess who will always be with you during the hard times? Homework.
- “Are you really going to another party, missy?” This one my mom told me, but who really listens to their mom anyway? Well, I’m here to repeat this again. Partying every weekend is not conducive. Coming from an ex-every weekend partygoer, unless you’re very well managed, you will suffer at the hands of this. Not every weekend needs an outing, and it might feel like you’re missing out when you stay home and you’re watching other friends’ instagram stories, but you’ll thank yourself later. Speaking from experience, the more parties you go to, the less interesting they get. You should savor the moment you get to put on makeup, or finally wear that nice dress you’ve been saving for a special occasion. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.
Overall, college is what you make it. It may not be just like Grownish or A Different World, but once you find that group of friends that you can laugh with about a funny tweet or to make those midnight Walmart run with, it becomes a more unique experience that you will never find anywhere else. Thanks, Mom!