How to survive your freshman year at Bonas

This time last year I was frantically searching the internet trying to find tips and guides to help me through the transition of my first year of college. I always found the same pieces of advice—Keep your door open, don’t over pack and join clubs. While these were great pieces of advice, I found that no guide could really prepare me for my freshman year. Some of this advice may apply to you and some may not. What’s important is that you find what works for you, and hopefully some of these tips put your mind at ease!

1.     You will not stay best friends with your orientation buddies, but you’ll always have something to chat about when you run into each other the first weeks of school.

2.     “Keep your door open and have an open mind. Respect upperclassman” –LB Hayes ‘17

3.     It’s ok if you and your roommate don’t like each other. My first roommate and I didn’t work out. She didn’t want to talk to me or ever leave the room. I felt like I was stuck with living with someone who didn’t like me, but it turns out she had her own problems and moved out all on her own.

4.     Communication is key when living with someone. My second roommate and I were friends until she started spreading rumors about me. I didn’t confront her until the second to last week of school, but after that everything between us was cool. Even if you have to get a little harsh it’s okay because everything will be laid out on the table. Just don’t get too mean.

5.     “Get to know as many people as possible. You don’t realize when you’re meeting people freshman year that these are people you’re walking the stage with. Your class is your family, and they are the people you’ll miss the most. Don’t take anything for granted because you’ll blink and it will all be over.” – Cassandra Nguyen ‘15

6.     Always eat full two meals before you plan on drinking. I didn’t drink in high school so it came to a total surprise to me when I got sick for the first time.

7.     Don’t be afraid to talk to upperclassmen. They were in the same situation as you just a few years ago, so they totally understand what you’re going through.

8.     Always take a day to yourself. I always designated Sunday nights to myself. I would watch a movie and put on a face mask.

9.     Try to reach out and make friends with a wide variety of people. It’s always nice to walk in a room and know more than two people.

10. “Remember to keep a healthy balance of school and having fun. And be social! You’ll meet some of your best friends in college.” –Sally Welch ‘17

11. Don’t spend all of your Bona Bucks in the first few weeks of school. Trust me, you will wish that you saved your Bona Bucks to buy an endless supply of coffee for finals week.

12. Enjoy the 50-degree weather while it lasts—it’ll be -50 in just a few months.

13. College classes are not high school classes. You won’t be able to pass the final if you haven’t read the textbook all semester. If you take about 30 to 40 minutes a day to study for each of your classes it will be a lot easier to study for the final.

14. “It’s super important to get involved. Go to as many club meetings as possible in your first month at school. See what you like and what you don’t like. Clubs are a great way to explore your major and meet new people!” –Emmy Kolbe

‘18

15. Make sure you know how to email your professors. They will be more willing to help if you ask for help the right way.

16. If you’re stressed out it helps to go to the gym and put in a hard workout. You’ll feel better about yourself and less stressed.

17. Always go to class, even if you really want to sleep in because you went out the night before.

18. If you look your best, you’ll feel your best. Taking an extra 30 minutes in the morning to do your makeup and pick out a nice outfit. It will make you feel more productive for the rest of the day.

19. Naps are your best friend.

20. “Have fun and push yourself outside your comfort zone. You have four years at Bonas and it’s not worth regrets—take a road trip, pull a few all-nighters, order pizza at 2 a.m., and let yourself sleep in when you need it. When it’s all said and done, you’ll be proud you did everything you could to really become extraordinary.” –Liam McGurl ‘18

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