College has always loomed as the exciting and daunting next step from high school–and for me, it has been exactly that.There are a vast number of valuable lessons that I’ve learned while first beginning my undergraduate journey at Seattle University and I hope that you too can relate to my introspections on life.
- You won’t always be best friends with your roommate
-
Now I don’t want this to sound disheartening because I know plenty of people who have loved their roommates and were friends with them. However, this may not always be the case, and that’s okay. I thought my roommate and I would get along and be friends in the beginning because we had similar classes, similar majors, and similar interests. However, as the year went on, I found myself getting annoyed with having people constantly in our room, the loud noise, and other issues. To be fair I wasn’t always vocal about these problems and I tried to be patient, but the bottom line is, my roommate and I were definitely not best friends. Which is okay! I learned that the ideal characteristic of a roommate is someone who is compatible to live with, not necessarily someone who will be your best friend.
- It’s okay to want to be alone sometimes
-
Constantly being surrounded by people, whether it be in class or while grabbing food, can get mentally exhaustive. Don’t get me wrong, I like to be around people too, but after many hours of social interactions, alone time is also needed. Make sure you schedule time for yourself because it’s just as important as anything else you do.
- Try new things! (Even though it’s scary)
-
This was crucial for me to understand because I’m more of a quiet and reserved person. However there are plenty of exciting activities and clubs to try out while in college. There’s opportunities all around, and the only person who can convince you to try them out is you. It’s true that it might put you out of your comfort zone, but in the end it’s worth the opportunity to try rather than wonder “what if?” Plus, it’s a great opportunity to expand your circle.
- MANAGE. YOUR. TIME.
-
This is the most important lesson in my opinion. In college there are plenty of distractions and temptations surrounding you. These can include clubs, events, parties, etc. However, at the end of the day, what you’re paying for in college is an education. Thus, other things outside of classwork can still be done, as long as there’s still sufficient time to learn and prep for the courses you’re paying for and pursuing a degree in.
- Prioritize
-
Prioritization is crucial when in college. This is the key technique to getting good grades. If you want to get an A in your Chemistry class, you have to dedicate a large chunk of your time to studying, taking good notes, etc. I know it’s easy to say that you don’t have enough time, and to some extent that’s true, but you should always make time for things that are a priority to you. This will make it easier to incorporate it into your schedule.
- Don’t forget about your parents!
-
It’s easy to get caught up in the newness of college life and freedom. This can lead to forgetting to call your loved ones and assuring them that you’re doing well. Even if you’re not homesick, they are more than likely still missing you. Even if you call just once a week or for a few minutes every day, they will appreciate the time you give to them. Plus, it can be comforting to know someone always has your back in times of need.
- Create a budget
-
Let me tell you, it’s so easy to get caught up with your friends and the new place you’re living that you forget how much money you’re spending. A concert here, some coffee there. It really adds up. I recommend making a budget for every month and to track your daily expenses. It’s really important to be thinking in a money savvy because these techniques can impact how you handle money in the future after graduation.
- It’s okay if your friend group changes
-
Freshman year can be scary. It’s a clean slate which requires making new friends and trying new things. Just remember, you won’t always find your best friend within the first few weeks of school. There are no restrictions as to who you can and can’t be friends with, so don’t stress if you want to switch it up. If you feel as if you aren’t vibing with certain people, try and join a club, or participate in a new activity so you can meet new types of people.
- Heads up: you will fail at least once
-
Now, I’m not saying this to scare you or that you’re not good enough. From personal experience and general knowledge, college is a lot harder than high school. There’s an expansive amount of material covered in a shorter period of time. I went from being a 4.0 student to getting B’s and C’s on my first few college exams. You cannot beat yourself up over these. It takes quite a bit of adjustment to get into the groove of college, especially when it comes to test taking. All you can do is learn from the mistakes, create good study techniques, and everything will work out with hard work and patience.
- Make yourself a system for studying
-
This last tip is extremely crucial for studying. It takes some time to truly understand what study technique works best for you. College exams are formatted in ways much different from high school, leaving students confused on how to approach them. I would recommend studying in a way that has worked for you in the past, take an exam, and adjust as you see fit. Some techniques include rewriting notes, listening to a lecture, or drawing diagrams. Find the way you learn best and incorporate that into your classes. Remember, this might vary for different classes and subjects.
From everywhere–movies, parents, social media–there are so many messages telling us what college is going to be like. And sure, some of it rings true, but college is also a unique experience for everyone. That means my experience is unique, too, but I think there are still things to be learned from experiences.