How to be a college student
As a 22 year old who is about to graduate this May and is lowkey (highkey) panicking, here are the things I wish I knew or had done starting my freshman year. Or the things I have done and stick by. I’d like to think four years (or 3.5 really) has changed me for the better.
Make use of your resources! - Let’s start with your major and career. You don’t have to know what you want to do, but definitely, and I mean please do, list down all your options for majors and career paths! Then go to your school’s career center, talk to someone, and have them give you resources on how to write a cover letter, how to interview, how to find out what you want to do in life, possible career options, etc. You might even find these on the website. I didn’t realize my school had so many of these things until like…my last semester. Make friends with people and ask them about their majors/classes, ask them if they know someone in another major you’re interested in so you can ask them about it, etc. People are busy, but people also want to help because it makes them feel useful and good about themselves.
Join clubs - Sign up for all the club emails and go to them. Then quit the ones you’re not interested in and go to the ones you are interested in. CAMARADERIE. It’s great to have friends in classes but even better to also have friends outside of classes. I joined a couple clubs first semester and didn’t go to any, but was still subscribed to emails. Second semester I opened an email where one club was looking for members for their annual show and I decided to try out for the marketing committee and got in even though I thought I butchered the interview and my marketing head + then-future-president liked me so much she asked me to apply for marketing head of the whole club the following year.
Do internships! - You might want to chill your freshman year and get used to things, but as soon as you can, apply to internships and do as many as you can in college! Of course, make sure you don’t overwork yourself because you’re still in school and should have a social life. Otherwise, and I cannot stress this enough, having a number of internships under your resume can seriously help you out in the future once you’re about to start applying to jobs. Honestly, I wish I did more.
Scared of failing? Too shy? Too not-out-there? People will judge you? - Okay so here’s the thing. Failure is nothing. Everyone fails and I mean everybody. People will judge you (either good or bad), but that’s okay, because they know only 1% of you and you’re subject to change and grow. The best thing you can do for yourself, and other people honestly, is to stick up for yourself. Be your own best friend. Yeah, you’re going to stutter and be awkward or whatever it is that will happen, but you have to go through it to get out of it. Let yourself have your strange and awkward and shy moments. Congrats! You’re putting yourself out there. It’s all about practice.
Say yes! - Not to drugs. But otherwise, go to that party if it ain’t shady! Go to that school event with your friends! Go to the museum! Agree to that study session! This sounds cliche but I swear by it, you never know what good thing or memories will come out of it.
But also say no! - This is a little tricky. It’s easy to say no when you’re stuck in your shell, but it’s harder to say no when it comes to not being a pushover or taking care of yourself. Generally, I find that once you get a sense of who you are…or to put in better terms, who you want to be, it’s easier to set boundaries for yourself. Boundaries are great.
Make a budget list - Use an app, Excel, whatever. Set a budget per month and per day (or per week, I find, may be easier). The act of doing this makes you more conscious of your money and where it goes. Make sure you record at least the items you bought and the amount you spent, so by the end of the month you know what you spend the most on.
Keep all your (old and new) documents - Especially if you’re an international student. For travel, health, etc. You never know when you’ll need them.
Forget who you were before or yesterday - Forget high school you, or what you did in High School, or what you did yesterday. You’re you now, and every day is the day you get to change and do what you want to do, or be who you want to be. (By the way, this doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, lots of setbacks and failures, and perseverance. Just keep swimming as Dory said.)
Just go for it - It’s good to be prepared but sometimes we can’t be prepared and we have to go all in and just do it. Failing or not getting what you want may suck, but I swear, when you get something you want but didn’t expect to, it makes it all worth it.
You’re going to change - Good things AND bad things will happen. Don’t hate yourself for it. What matters is how you deal with it and how you pick yourself back up.
Cherish your friends - Be good to people and make new friends every year, but also make sure you make time for those friends who will stick by you all four years (or three or two depending when you meet them) and don’t take them for granted. Spend time with them without going on your phones. Talk to them about stuff. Listen to what they have to say, ask them for help, and do the same for them. Four years can go by real quick.
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