With seven semesters down, this is what I’ve learned in order to make the most of your time at UF.
Always try for anything you want.
Be kind to those surrounding you.
Call your support system when you’re down.
Don’t wear your Preview lanyard around your neck.
Everyone gets overwhelmed. You’re not alone.
Follow @UF on social media. The posts will make you sentimental.
Go to class. Don’t skip unless you really need to.
Head outside every now and then. The fresh air is a good break from the library.
Insist on taking a road trip somewhere with your friends. Even if it’s 20 minutes away.
Jump around your room and sing.
Know it’s okay to cry when necessary.
Look up from your phone. Reality is when your head’s up.
Make the most of free events offered. I promise you will probably not see James Franco again.
No, you don’t have to request a stop on the bus at the Hub.
Opportunities are everywhere. Read the emails from your college with internship & job listings.
Pop into random buildings and explore what this campus has to offer.
Quit comparing yourself to others. Everyone works differently.
Right over left. Always.
Seek what makes you happy. It’s okay if it takes more time than you anticipate.
Take the time to educate yourself on important matters — bills, taxes, politics.
Universities elsewhere really can’t compare.
Very important — do your homework in advance. It makes things ten times less stressful.
Wear orange and blue to the games.
Xerox your papers. Make extra copies. You don’t think your coffee will spill, but it might.
Your “class of” shirt will let everyone know you’re a freshman.
Zealously go after what you want. Don’t apologize for being excitable, enthusiastic or passionate.
Gators span this globe, and you are one of them. Enjoy the good moments, the bad moments and the in-between. I know I didn’t believe it when I started, but it goes faster than you could ever imagine.
Photo credit: Leah Marshall