The 11 Things I Learned at College

Today, I enrolled for my sophomore year of college. 237 days ago, I moved across the state into an unfamiliar atmosphere. To say I was scared would be an understatement. I had plenty of friends and family that advised me on what my first year of college would be like, but there are somethings that you can only learn by experience and by yourself.


1. Go through the orientation process.
This is the best way to learn about the campus and to meet upperclassmen and professors. You get to have a first week of college without having to actually do school work. There will also be crazy and sentimental traditions that you could participate in. This is also the way to meet new friends.
However, you may never talk to your new "Welcome Week" friends again. But that's okay. By the end of the week, you will feel more comfortable with the place you are in.

2. Go to class and do your homework.
So. You were the Valedictorian of your graduating high-school class. That does not automatically mean that you will succeed in college. It means almost nothing. A high school teacher once told me that the worst part about straight-A students is that they don't want to do the work, but they still expect the A. 
In college, if you don't do the work, you may not even get a B.

3. Dorms are not terrible.
They provide a bed to sleep in. 
The people living on your hall are the people you will have to live with for a long period of time. So get to know them. Be respectful of them. 
I was warned to not be friends with just my hallmates. But these people obviously didn't meet my hallmates. 




4. Having a major can be the best or worst thing. 
This is the thing that could possibly define you and how people interact with you. 
"Oh. You're a music major. You must be so talented."
"Oh. You're a psychology major. What does my dream mean?"
"Oh. You're undeclared. That's okay. You have plenty of time to decide."
"Oh. You're a nursing major. I heard that not many people make it through, and you're always busy, and you don't have any fun. Good Luck! But first, do you have any medicine I could take?"
You will consider changing your major, and if you are like me, you will consider changing your major at least 5 times a week. But that's okay.

5. There is no point in complaining about the cafeteria food.
It's not the best food. But it's food. And if you have a meal plan, it's already paid for. 

6. Invest in a good pair of headphones.
Some nights, you don't want to listen to people talking loudly, and if you have to watch a film for a class, you won't have to bother your roommate. 

7. Don't spend all your money.
If you spend it all, you won't have any left. It's pretty self-explanatory.

8. Find friends in your classes.
This will make it easier to go to class. This will make it easier to study for tests. This will just in general, make it easer.

9. Do Not Procrastinate.
Your professors will give you a syllabus at the beginning of the semester with most, if not all, of your due dates and test dates. Yet, you will probably still wait until the night before the big project due to actually do it. And you will regret it. 
So in order to relieve stress, don't procrastinate. 

10. Go home every once in a while.
This will make your family happy. It will probably make you happy, too. On the other hand, don't go home every weekend, unless it absolutely necessary.

11. Make time for yourself.
This was advice my advisor gave me after she saw what my schedule was this semester. I'm still learning to do this.