You’re probably freaking out about where you’re going to school, what you’re going to major in, who your friends will be, how you’re going to make it without your parents, and so much more. Meanwhile, you haven’t even written your college essay, which you should probably get started on so you can perfect it by December.
You’re going to be leaving your family and closest friends come a year from now, so make this time you have left with them last. Don’t start hanging out with a new boy that you’re most likely never going to see once you graduate over your family. Even if you and your parents don’t get along that well, you’re going to miss them. Some nights you’re going to want to call up your mom and cry like you did when you were 7 when you didn’t get your way. College is going to change the relationship you have with your parents–take time to appreciate them and show them how grateful you are for them because they do a lot more than you think. As for friends, good luck. You’ll graduate with maybe 30 good friends and by the time you come home for winter break you’ll be down to 10, and that’s okay. Having 10 really close friends to stick by you in college is better than having a huge group of people who don’t really care about you. Try to stay in touch with as many people as you can; it’s going to be difficult at times but some friendships are worth it. So figure out which ones are worth fighting for and stick with those, don’t stress about keeping home friendships alive. The important people will be there when you get back whether you talked every day or not at all. But as senior year starts, make everlasting memories with your best friends. That way you’ll have cool pictures with them to post on your dorm room wall and adventurous stories to tell about them to new friends.
It’s never too late to get involved, don’t lie on your resume, actually do the clubs and activities. Colleges notice those things and will offer you opportunities in those fields. If it is a club you really like, having it on your resume can help you look for a school with a similar organization for you to join in the future. Try to stay involved once you get to college because you’re going to see people graduating with 18 tassels and 3 sasses and wish you had a least one of either of those. If you get involved, you’ll earn those tassels and sasses to show off your hard work at graduation.
You may think that your high school is a weird and unusual place, but I can guarantee you that college is weirder. Most students are ages 18-22, like you would think. But, you’ll also have class with full blown adults that have families, pregnant ladies, people from across the country, or even the world, and a lot of people you’ll find to be very, very strange compared to what you’re used to. You’re also probably used to class from 8 AM – 3 PM every day of the week. In college you make your own schedule which can be very stressful at times, but can be rewarding if you get into all the right classes. You’re not going to be used to 6-9 PM classes, not having Friday classes, or only having class for five minutes. It’s something most students prefer, but there is a harsh reality to college that you won’t get a taste of until you’re a freshman.
You could hate your roommate, but you’re most likely stuck with them so get over it. The food, is probably disgusting, but it’s the best you’re going to get from life in the dorms. Classes are hard, it is college; and they only get harder. You may only have five classes throughout a week but it is harder to keep organized and stay on top of those five than it was to manage the 6 or more classes you had a day in high school. Making friends is not as easy as walking up to a lunch table and saying hi. The first people you meet don’t have to be your friends throughout college; and the more people you meet, the more likely you are to finding actual friends who you like and get along with. Professors aren’t just teachers, they’re doctors and researchers, so yeah, they’re not going to tolerate you. They’ll let gum chewing and texting slide, but they may not care if you’re failing or struggling with material. They’re not going to call home or ask you if you’re okay. It’s your job to ask for help and actually do the work.