Starting new things is exciting especially college, but let’s be real, guys, it can be kind of… awkward. Freshman year is one of the best years of your life because you get to move out of your house, learn a ton of new things, meet amazing friends, but it also involves meeting a lot of new people, navigating a new place, and not having your bed or your mom to come home to at the end of the day.
1. Getting on the wrong bus
This happens to everyone at least once because chances are before you came to college you never had to memorize bus routes and times. You can always tell when someone got on the wrong bus also because when the bus doesn’t stop at their stop and the realization crosses their faces you feel your heart go out to them already envisioning their mile walk up hill home.
2. Trying to talk to new people
I’m sorry but the first conversation you have with anyone, even if they’re destined to be your best friend, will be awkward. There is the awkwardness of breaking the ice to trying to figure out what to say next. I had more awkward first conversations freshman year than I’ve had in my entire life. My second year? We’re at a staggering one awkward first conversations so far.
3. The dining hall by yourself
Dining halls are just a breeding ground for awkwardness and early in your college career you’re going to have to do it by yourself. This time last year I would have starved before I went to a dining hall by myself and had to find a table by myself and then eat by myself. This awkward hurdle is easy to get over by second semester freshman year I was eating two meals a day by myself.
4. Roommates
Living with anyone can be awkward especially if it’s a complete stranger and you’re stuffed into a 12 by 12 shoe box. You have to coordinate bed times and wake up times. You have to ask their opinion on everything you do because YOU don’t want to be a bad roommate, but your roommate always does weird/gross/annoying things without a second thought. Dorms are awkward.
5. Communal bathrooms
SHARING A BATHROOM WITH 12 OTHER GIRLS IS AWKWARD. First off, someone listening to you pee is kind of weird. Second off, I look like a wet rat after a shower I don’t want my new hallmates to see that I actually look like a RODENT.
6. Everyone knows you’re a freshman
Everyone on campus looks so put together and old your freshman year. See that person walking next you you on the sidewalk? They’re graduating in December. They’re getting a real job. Terrifying. It’s pretty clear who is a freshman not just to upperclassmen but to other freshmen. This is a good thing because it leads you right into the arms of your fellow freshmen who you can reveal your awkward moments to in private and get a laugh out of them because they happened to them too.
The great thing about freshman year is that it’s only a year. After one year in a place you know it like the back of your hand. So be strong, freshies, next year you’ll be walking on campus like you run the place.