First, I would like to welcome the Class of 2020 to Temple University. I decided to dedicate this listicle to you and share what college life is actually like. You’ve probably heard stories from your friends about what they thought college was like based off their favorite television show. Or you might have asked an older sibling who tried to keep you from hearing their not-so-good experiences. Here are 10 things you should know about college life explained by the cast of “Stranger Things.”
- Waking Up on Time
It’s now the second week of class. The first week you set your alarm early and you got to class first. But now you’re thinking, why get to class early? Why not give yourself that extra 10 minutes to sleep? Here’s why… that extra 10 minutes might turn into 15 minutes and then 20 minutes, then next thing you know you’re rushing to get ready for class. If you’re someone who loves to get dressed for class, this may not be the smartest thing to do. If you’re someone who doesn’t mind wearing sweatpants to class, then by all means. Be aware that the more time you have to yourself in the morning, the more time you have to let’s say, study for that exam you have in your 8am.
2. Dining Halls
You have your meal swipes now and there are so many places on campus to eat. You decide Morgan Hall because of its variety of foods. As soon as you walk in, you see the upperclassmen and you know they’re upperclassmen from the way they look at you. You feel like everywhere you turn, every table you look at, everyone’s staring at you. Don’t feel intimidated by the angry looks, some of them are really nice people and will be glad to guide you through campus. Some of them, not so much.
3. Deadlines
This brings us to the wonderful due dates. You can’t run from them. You’ll wake up in the middle of the night remembering you have a paper due the next morning. You may have gotten away with it in high school; you could do papers at the last minute and finish homework assignments in class. But in college, you’re taking so many classes, they’re all in different buildings and many professors won’t remind you when things are due. It is up to you to remember to write it down, get started as soon as possible and avoid procrastinating… although some people work very well under pressure. Just keep in mind that you don’t want to be the one in the tech center typing a paper until 4 a.m. when you have an 8 a.m. class the same day.
4. Study Groups
You prefer to study alone, but one of your classmates asked you to join their study group. You weigh your options and come to the conclusion that a study group can’t be that bad, and you end up really enjoying it. Study groups are a great way to get to know your classmates, to share thoughts and ideas about the material you learned in class and, best of all, it’s fun way to study! You may like to study alone, but there’s no harm in trying one out.
5. Making Friends
They say the friends you make in college are the friends you have for a lifetime. Get out of your comfort zone. If you’re socially awkward, I’m sure you have class with someone who is just as socially awkward as you are. Or who loves “Stranger Things” as much as you do. Introduce yourself and exchange numbers because you might find out that you two have more in common than you expected.
6. Partying
You never been to a college party before, but your roommate is begging you to go with her. So you go and you end up having a good time. You realize how much partying is a part of the college social life. It’s a great way to meet new people, to socialize and even to network in some cases. If partying is not really your scene, it’s okay. Try going to a kickback, which is a more “chill” way of partying. Remember to limit the amount of partying you do; the books are most important.
7. Networking
The most important part of college life is networking. It’s all about who you know. Make a (positive) name for yourself while you have the opportunity to. Job Fairs hosted by the Career Center are a great way to learn how to network and discover your career field.
8. Falling in Love…Maybe
You’re so focused on your studies (or at least you are trying to be) but then you remembered the cute guy from your Chemistry class and realized you met him during Welcome Week. Maybe now is a good time to introduce yourself. You might have a strong connection, your vibes might be indescribable or you guys might just end up being really good friends. Who knows? Fall in love, give it a try (or not). This might be the person you are meant to be with or they might not be, but college is all about learning from your mistakes.
9. Grades and Stress
You’ve been a straight-A student your entire life, but you got your first paper back and the grade was not what you expected. You storm out of class wondering how you got a D on your paper and let your emotions get the best of you. It happens. The best thing to do about a grade you’re unhappy with is talk to your professor about where you went wrong. There’s no need to stress yourself out over one paper, especially when there are three more and a chance for extra credit. Leave room for yourself to make mistakes. Go to your professor’s office hours for help. Try to study more and limit the amount of time you spend partying. Stay focused!
10. Finding Yourself
College is all about finding yourself. Discover the things you like about yourself or the things you find interesting about yourself. Join an organization that interests you, play a sport or two, make connections and explore. Also leave room for error but always pick yourself up when you fall.
Enjoy your freshman year of college because the years fly by after the first one. Live a little, let your guard down, have fun, but always stay true to yourself!