When you go off to college, everyone tells you that everything is going to be great, you’ll love every minute of it, and everything will be perfect. What they fail to tell you is most of the time, it takes time to find your niche, find your people and find yourself. Here are a few things that your parents and teachers failed to tell you about this great journey you’re about to embark on:
1. Eventually, all your emotions are going to hit you at once.
All of the sleepless nights and countless study sessions will add up and hit you like a ton of bricks, so make sure you try to take care of yourself and know you’re not alone. College is stressful, is new and is an adjustment for everyone.
2. Your first real week of classes will probably be overwhelming.
Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it. Always ask around to find out if you really need to do the “required” reading or not.
3. Time management will be a struggle.
You may have to pick and choose between things, and for some of us (me, included), this will be an on-going struggle. Do the best you can and if it’s an on-going struggle, just own it.
4. You’re going to have to like the idea of the Max, because soon it will be all you have.
Textbooks and groceries take all of your money, Barbs takes all of you’re Cat Cash. Soon you’ll be left with only swipes.
5. You may feel like you’re the only one struggling, but you’re not.
Whether it’s struggling to make friends, good grades, or just make a decent meal, you are not alone my friend.
6. Sometimes you just have to say no. And it’s okay.
It may not be ideal, but it’s okay to say no to going out or having a movie night with your girls. Sometimes you have to study and people will get that.
7. With that being said, it’s also okay to ditch the books every once in a while.
It’s fine to have a night out once in a while and procrasting on that school work, just don’t make it a habit.
8. Group projects will be the death of you.
Group projects are hard to do with everyone’s conflicting schedules, but professors will assign them. Make sure you meet up, stay on task, and get stuff done, or you’ll just look like idiots.
9. If a teacher assigns work over the break, just do it.
Complain about it? Yes. Question it? Sure. But in the end, make sure it’s done.
10. Adulting really is hard, and you’ll probably regret leaving mom and dad’s house.
It’s not always awesome making all of your decisions, especially when you screw everything up. Don’t feel like no one is there to help you, because they are.
11. The “Freshman Fifteen” is real. Be sure to hit the gym.
Make sure to have a regular exercise routine. It’s good for your health and a great way to relieve all that stress from studying.
12. You’re going to question your life decisions at least once a day.
It’s okay to change your major, question whether or not you chose the right school, or feel like you screwed up somewhere. Everyone questions themselves in college. It’s not the end of the world; everything will work out (I promise).
13. You’ll feel like finals week will kill you.
Every semester, finals week will sneak up on you and you’ll feel like you’re going to die of stress, starvation and sleep deprevation. You’re going to survive, and every semester you’ll question how you did.
14. You’re going to find your person.
Your college friends will be different than your high school friends. Your friendship is built on all of life’s new struggles and the relationship runs deep.
15. At the end of the day, you’re going to love everything about college.
You’ll love how you’ve grown as a person, the people, and you’ll actually feel like you know what you’re doing when Spring Semester rolls around.