We’re about a week away from the end of the 2016-2017 school year. It’s been rough in some areas, but filled with learning experiences. Currently, I’m finishing up my junior year and I can’t believe how much my life and I have changed since beginning college. I’ve learned a lot and there’s definitely some things I wish I had known when I started.
It’ll be tough at first, but stick it out.
I began at a junior college, but when I transferred to a four-year (University of Portland) after my freshman year I wanted to transfer somewhere else just ater a month. The university was a lot different than I had expected — even after having toured the place twice. I was shocked and disheartened. I wasn’t sure the school was the best fit for me and I spent more time worrying and looking into transferring again, then trying to find my niche in the school. Granted, my concerns were genuine, but a lot of it was just me having a hard time adjusting. This is totally normal when you start at a new school. You probably moved away from home, you’re separated from your usual support system, the environment is different, and so on. Being homesick and skeptical about whether or not you fit in this new place is valid and okay. However, I highly recommend at least sticking it out a full year before deciding whether or not you may want to transfer. Sometimes the school just isn’t right for you, but don’t decide until you’ve tried out some clubs and really tried to get to know the place! And if you do decide to transfer, that’s okay. Plenty of people do it! Do whatever is best for you.
Take care of yourself.
School is important, but so is your health. I know far too many people who really struggled during their first year of college as their physical and mental health went down the drain. Yes, you should care about your studies, but when you don’t take the time to exercise, eat properly, and sleep…that will get harder. You’ll be surprised how difficult it can be to do well or have a good time when you’re in a constant state of exhaustion and malnourished. Proper time management when it comes to your academics and social life can help you to avoid this. It’s okay to take breaks and there is no need to be pulling near-all nighters every day.
It’s okay to go out and it’s okay to stay in.
It’s okay to get off campus sometimes, go to parties, have movie nights with friends, or go out to eat. You don’t always need to be holed up in your room and working on homework. Like I said, give yourself a break! You’ll have a much better college experience if you spend time away from all that sometimes. College is also about having fun and making meaningful connections. But, also don’t worry about always doing what everyone else is doing. FOMO (or fear of missing out) isn’t as big a deal as some might make it seem. If you want to stay in, no big deal. Sometimes the best way to destress is to just hang out on our own and maybe watch a little Netflix. Despite the stereotypes shown in movies, not everyone parties or drinks in college. Even those who do don’t do it every night or even every weekend.
You don’t have to be friends with everyone.
This isn’t to say you shouldn’t be friendly to most people, but you certainly do not have to befriend everyone in college. Unlike elementary through high school, if you don’t like someone you don’t have to hang out with them. In fact, you don’t have to see them all that often depending on the size of your university. It’s okay to be pickier about who you spend your time with. In fact, I encourage you to spend more time creating meaningful relationships rather than trying to have a large amount of friends. This is the real time when you find your life-long friends.
Classes may be more difficult than you’re used to.
The classes are probably harder than what you remember from high school, and there’s probably far more reading and studying to do outside of them. They will challenge your views and beliefs, force you work harder, and test your resilience. Each professor you have will probably have a different style in terms of how they teach and what they expect from their students. It’s perfectly normal to struggle in a class or to not be used to the particular style. It’s important to learn how to adapt however, rather than dropping the class. Hard classes are unavoidable, so learn to go with it rather than trying to get out of the situation. I also encourage you to visit your professor’s office hours. They do want you to succeed, and most can and will help you if you’re struggling.