College tips
I’m in college, no surprise there. I’ve had many experiences already in my 2 years of college. Let’s just say, chaos likes to follow me. I’ve passed, failed, been to the hospital, gotten on a first name basis with the dean, almost got backer acted, all that good stuff. So I have quite a few tips between balancing school and two jobs, recovering from failing, how to pass, when to call a class quits, etc. Some of these you may think I’m crazy for and that’s ok. Some like just giving up on a class or two may sounds stupid but believe me, when you work two jobs, are almost hospitalized, have family on the verge of death, one already dead, living an hour from school, and relying on a car that likes to work most of the time, there will be times you need to just quit. These tips may not be for everyone, but I’m sure that at least one of these could help you.
Find a sleeping schedule that works for you. Once you do, fit your classes around it, and work around your school. Trust me, if you put sleep second, you will never sleep enough and you’ll half ass all your classes.
Not only try to avoid 8AM’s, try to avoid classes that end at 9-10PM. I always here people advise against 8am classes, but never heard anyone advise against these. As a female getting out that late and walking to your car or dorm can be very scary especially on a college campus and that’s for good reason. It’s just not safe. Not to mention, you’ll get back to your place of sleeping and not be tired enough to sleep and probably won’t go to bed until around midnight at the earliest. Then cue next morning hatred for signing up for that class. Trust me, these classes are just as bad as 8ams
If the police want to talk to you, be honest and polite. The more polite you are, the gentler they will be and the less likely they are to threaten to arrest you as an accomplice or something. Just be honest and polite, but never compromise your rights. Ask for a lawyer but do so politely if it comes down to it. They hate talking to you just as much as you hate talking to them
Go ahead and hook up, but make sure your roommate(s) are fine with it and make sure to use protection. Don’t rely on plan B
Never let your drink leave your sight. Always keep it in hand and close to the front of your torso. Pass on the food at parties too unless you see it get delivered, opened, and served. People love getting people high and giving them drugs without their knowledge and consent as a prank
If you know you’re going to a place with alcohol, bring at least one friend you can completely trust even if you don’t think you’re going to drink
Don’t let someone talk you up and don’t fuck someone because you feel guilty
Make time to study. Put it in your calendar and don’t make plans for those times. Believe me, you’ll be so happy you did
Take notes in whatever way works for you. Study however and wherever works for you. Don’t be fooled into thinking there’s a correct way to succeed in academia. The only correct way is the way that works for you. Music? No music? Outside? Flashcards? In your bed? Whatever works my dude
Make your bed when you first get up. It will make your room appear more put together and if you do nothing all day besides that, at least you can tell yourself that you did do something worthwhile that day
If you’re sick, go to the clinic. Most campuses have free clinics where you can go and get seen for free or really cheap if you’re a student. Don’t suffer and be miserable
If you’re sad, cry. Be dramatic. Turn on the shower and start showering and then slowly slide down the wall as you breakdown hysterical over that breakup and just let the water gently flow over your skin as your tears blend with the drops spiraling down the drain. Trust me, you’ll come out feeling so much better while also wanting to die. But you’ll have more confidence and an easier time than you would if you tried to play it off like it didn’t bother you
Do stupid, harmless things like confess to your crush or tell that girl you think her hair is gorgeous. Go for a walk in the park and go out to your favorite restaurant alone. Buy the cheapest bottle of wine and drink it while watching a Disney movie. Live. Feel the rain fall and the sunlight wrap you. Feel the wind flow around you and the snow cover you. Feel the shadows cast down from the clouds and the ground beneath your feet. Pick that dandelion and make a wish or two or twenty. You could walk around in nothing but a snuggie and flip flops while drinking a piña colada from a coffee mug that says “fuck you” on it and I can guarantee you at least one person will think you’re a genius
Actually talk to your roommate(s) because you’ll be living with them for a while. Try to be on their good side. And if you really don’t like them, befriend your RA and bitch about him/her to them
Go bake something at 2AM
If you’re drinking and begin to feel buzzed, stop. The alcohol will hit you even more as the night goes on. No one does anything they want to talk about while shit-faced. Every drunk person becomes the person everyone laughs at and talks about for days. Save yourself the embarrassment and stop with a buzz. And besides it’s much better than a hangover
If you’re failing a class and you have no hope in reviving your grade, then don’t be afraid to drop it or just stop trying. In my chem 2 lecture, all three tests I took so far I got below a 65 on. I need a 72 to pass. There’s no way I would pass the class and I can’t drop it so I stopped going and studying and worrying about it. There’s no reason I should sacrifice efforts on a lost cause when I could put that energy to another class and excell in it.
Actually talk with your teachers. They control your grade, might as well get to know them and be on their good side. And trust me, not only will your grades be better, they may come in use later on
Don’t try to fix anyone. People have their problems and their own lives. You won’t fix anyone and you’ll just hurt yourself in the process
Be kind to people. If they piss you off, be even nicer to them. Trust me, it will be great watching them fume but not be able to do anything because you’re so nice and sweet and everyone loves you
Learn to cook real meals like chicken parmesan, shrimp alfredo, good chili, etc. They’re all really pretty simple with a little bit of practice and after a while, you’ll be able to make a delicious meal out of almost anything you find in your cabinets. I learnt how to cook at a young age and now if you just threw a bunch of random ingredients and some spices at me, I could definitely make due. This has come in handy so many times when all I have to eat is some pasta, a loaf of bread, chicken strips, and maybe a vegetable at the bottom of the fridge. I can work with that and not hate what I eat
Get off your parent’s taxes and get your own insurance
Go to the gym at least once. Even if it’s just to look
Try out some new hobbies like kayaking, painting, hiking, baking, witchcraft, writing, photography, cooking, sewing, etc. Many of these things will be useful
Learn at least one survival skill. Sewing, making bread from acorns, fishing, building a flotation device, whatever. It’ll make you look cool and like you have this whole life thing figured out
Keep your gas receipts and all receipts really
Spend cash
Learn about yourself
Record lectures when you can’t focus or don’t want to take notes
Avoid the tattoo parlor between the hours of 8pm and 10am to avoid a future regret
Talk to the people who no one else does. Befriend the outcasts. But if they do things you’re uncomfortable with, you can just as easily walk away
Don’t hang out with the person who gets drunk every weekend and smokes weed to get high and acts like college is a party every day. They usually get caught at least once or do something stupid that brings you down
Go to the beach at night when no one is around and the stars are out. Be safe though
If you don’t want to do something, don’t. You owe no one an explanation. They should respect your no and if they don’t, you don’t need them around
Don’t let someone get handsy with you just because they’re drunk. Tell them no if it makes you uncomfortable. Walk away
You are in school, your grades are important, but they’re not the end all be all
Start learning how to rely on yourself and yourself only
Avoid fights. They’re not cool and can land you in jail
People almost always have a motive
Spend time with your family and friends. The older you get, the older they get and the more likely they are to die. You never want to hate yourself for not spending time with someone
You are not to blame for someone else’s actions
You are responsible only for yourself and your actions. But don’t let that be an excuse to let someone else do something stupid
Take at least one afternoon every week to just have fun and pretend work and school doesn’t exist and you live in a perfect world
No one is perfect. Everyone fucks up. A lot. But it’s ok to cut people out of your life who fuck up. Never feel guilty for it
It’s ok to be picky
Don’t trust what people tell you. Fact check. Everything
Wash a dish after you use it and put stuff away when you’re done with it. Taking an extra 5 seconds will save you hours of stress and hate later
Turn your phone on do not disturb or on silent when studying for something important that you need to focus on
Take thousands of pictures of everything
Try to laugh every day
Do your homework even if you know the teacher won’t collect it
Constantly review past sections if you know the final will be cumulative
Keep your silibus for each class
Learn people’s stories. Not just the exciting ones. Learn about how their mother would wake them in the mornings as a kid. Learn about the silly stories they have. Learn about their scars, both happy and sad
Take care of your skin, teeth, hair, and brain
Change diets for a day
Find something that really excites you in every class you take
For everything you hate about yourself, find at least something you somewhat like about yourself
Happiness is just as much a mental thing as sadness. Find things that make you happy. Like the color orange or rain drops on leaves
Wear what ever the fuck you want. No one will care
Go to your classes even if attendance is not mandatory unless you could teach that lesson to everyone else in the class with 98% accuracy
Do things that make you happy and healthy
Make friends with people in your classes
You don’t need to be involved in 5 different clubs
You’ll only have a couple good friends and maybe one real friend if you’re lucky
Get to know someone who has a pet
Learn to respect yourself and your wants
You aren’t your parents or anyone else and you won’t have the life anyone else has
It’s ok to need a break sometimes. Just don’t give up
You are loved despite what that annoying brain of yours says. You are wanted and your friends care about you. And I do too
You matter just as much as anyone else does and if you’re struggling at all, you deserve help just as much as anyone else
You have a voice and a say. Use them wisely
I’m not in college yet but these are all great
