With my first semester as a college student drawing to a close, and as I look back at the past three months, I’m realizing just how much craziness happened in such a short span of time. It’s been a blast, and here are seven lessons about Illinois I’ve learned along the way!
Collegiate Homecoming: Weird, but still fun
Used to the days of finding the perfect dress and spirit wear gear, homecoming in high school was such a big deal. I wasn’t able to attend Illinois’s parade or the pep rally, but it just lost some of its appeal. Maybe next year will be different after I finally put the high school memories aside and realize that as fun as it may sound, a dance with 32,000 undergrads is just not going to happen.
The People: So Much Yes
College is a whole new ballgame, and campus is full of possibilities! Coming from a high school where so many students attend Illinois, I was worried about running into my fellow classmates left and right. It turns out I had nothing to be worried about. So be that girl, like me, who sits out in the dorm lounge, who gets to know her neighbors and starts that conversation with the cutie that walks by. You never know what will come out of it! Take advantage of all of the different people you meet, and take the time to learn about what makes them so unique.
Late nights and early mornings: A lethal combination
I expected my first college Thanksgiving break to be full of fun, friends and more fun! Instead, that first weekend, I went to the doctor three times and managed to sleep a good 20 hours straight. I came home exhausted from the relentless late nights out, 3 a.m. life chats with floor mates and trying to stay on top of school, as well. What I realized is that as many times the phrase “time management” is thrown in our faces, it’s a huge deal, and we all need to work on it.
Squirrels: They’re nuts!
Harmless little creatures, you say? Well, there must be something in all the corn that makes Illini squirrels just a little off their rocker. They’re reckless in their approach to unaware students on the quad, and they don’t understand that the further back they stand, the better we all feel.
Bars: To each her own
In a town where one has to be only 19 years old to enter the bars, I was lucky to have an early birthday. I definitely recommend celebrating your big 1-9 with a good old bar crawl. Throughout the night, I was able to learn each bar’s crowd and appeal. Need to dance? Hit up Joe’s or Red Lion. You’ll find that more relaxed family vibe at Murphy’s or Legend’s. FireHaus and Brother’s are good middleground, and Kam’s give you that classic “college bar” feel.
Prank Wars: Oh, those happen
What began as harmless fun between my floor mates quickly evolved into a full-scale battle with another boy’s floor. Just like in the movies, the initial days sparked sharp secrecy and limited diplomacy between the two. We even got group chats going. As expected, girls rule, and boys drool.
Floormates: A second family
We’ve held each other’s hair, listened to all the boys that have come and gone, spent days straight with them and have even picked up their lingo. I’ve been so fortunate to have a floor where we look after each other like family, because that’s what we are at the end of the day. Occasional cat fights aside, the fact that our group couldn’t stop texting each other or posting on each other’s walls about the days until we got to see each other next after Thanksgiving break says it all.
Feel like I missed something? Comment below and share your advice to fellow or future freshies!