This summer, I was bombarded with various college words of wisdom. From “college will be the best four years of your life,” to stories about wild frat parties and advice about how often I should study, it seemed like I’d never hear the end of it. Although I felt ready enough to throw myself into Brandeis and experience it to the fullest with move-in day just around the corner, I felt a sudden pang of anxiety as I lugged my suitcases up the stairs to my new home. Despite all that I’ve heard about the college experience, I felt helpless. Every college experience is different, and I wondered if any of what I was told by my friends, my relatives, and the internet was true. Even though I have only been at Brandeis for a little over two weeks, I have come to learn a thing or two so far.
Here are five things that I should have known before Move-in Day:
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Pack well
It seems obvious to double-check your packing list, but it’s easier said than done when you’re rushing to cram your entire wardrobe into your tiny suitcase the night before you leave. Don’t be me. Have a packing list that takes the weather at your school into account. Is it hot and dry, or does it rain frequently? How cold does it get at night versus during the day? How often will you do laundry? How much will you actually work out? Will you be going to somewhere more formal such as Shabbat services, mass, or maybe even an interview? All of these questions, and more, you should definitely take into account before you leave for your home away from home.
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Eat what makes you feel well
College dining is, simply put, a smattering of hyper-palatable, calorically-dense, and often unhealthy food. If you’re like me and grew up in a healthy household where there was no sugar or junk in the house most of the time, it’s difficult to not go ham on the fried foods and desserts that Sherman and Usdan has to offer (like I’ve done more times than I’d care to admit). Unhealthy food is tasty, but at least for me, I feel awful if I overeat–particularly in regards to unhealthy foods. Especially given the amount of energy that you expend as a college student, it’s important, crucial even, to fill your body with foods that make you feel nourished after you eat them. Giving your body copious amounts of fruits, veggies, and protein not only makes you healthier and gives you the proper nutrients you need to function, but research shows that it increases happiness, too (Mujcic). However, I do want to emphasize the importance of eating well out of self-love and care for yourself, and not out of hatred or disgust with your body; a healthy mindset is key to a healthy lifestyle.
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Friends change
I’ll just lay this out here really quickly: the people you meet during orientation, or at least the first people that you get to know, oftentimes aren’t the people who become your best friends. College is a time when people are finding their niche and who they are as individuals, and nobody is static. Although being best friends with your orientation buddy can and does happen, you can also drift apart and find an entirely new group of friends. People change and grow, and so will you. The important thing is to be open, which leads me to my next point…
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Make an effort to meet new people and try new things
No matter how small your college is, the volume of people can feel overwhelming. It’s intimidating to be uprooted from your home and to be launched into the college social scene, and all too easy to stick to the same few people who you meet during Orientation. However, as I’ve mentioned before, you’ll grow and change as a person and branching out in all areas of your life is the best way to grow. College is the place to discover new passions and activities that you’d never begin to think of before, and to find your people. Go to Shabbat dinner (not only for the ah-mazing food)–even if you’re not Jewish (I’m not, but I’ve made friends there and had the opportunity to learn about Judaism, which is an important aspect of Brandeis). Get involved; after all, you’re paying a buttload of money to go to college, so you might as well make it count.
Photo by Jasmine Coro on Unsplash
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There is life after college
As I’m immersing myself in the college experience, my short time here thus far has proven and challenged many expectations that I had of Brandeis. The cliche that “college will be the best four years of your life” is BS. College is not meant, in my opinion, to be the best four years of your entire existence–it’s meant to set you up for an even better life ahead. These next 4 years will be the highest highs and the lowest lows but no matter what you do and where you end, you will grow into an incredible human being. Unlike the movies, and especially at Brandeis, college is a far cry from the constant frat parties and football tailgates. In high school, it may seem like your college years are more akin to an end-goal, but in actuality, it’s merely a milestone. There is a life after college, and although you will have some of the most incredible experiences here, you’ll be prepared for what the real world has to offer.
College is a wonderful journey, one that will shape the person you continue to become. You’ll have good times, harder times, and periods of growth. You’ll develop new skills, passions, areas of interest, and a changed perspective. These next four years are yours and yours alone. Enjoy these moments and embrace everything you can!
Mujcic, Redzo, and Andrew J Oswald. “Evolution of Well-Being and Happiness After Increases in Consumption of Fruit and Vegetables.” American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, Aug. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4940663/.