things I wish someone had told me when I was a college freshman
it’s easy to let the answer “I can’t wait to meet other people!” out when someone asks what you’re most excited for in college. no one says that meeting people during orientation and the first week of school is one of the most draining experiences in college.
finding your best friends in the first month of college is highly improbable, but that’s ok. you don’t have to start over with new friends in college either- try and keep the ones you love deeply from high school, and the rest will fall into place.
you and your roommate just have to cohabitate- you don’t have to be best friends. it’s better if you have shared interests and do things together, but that isn’t necessary. also, set your boundaries right away. my current roommate and I have lived together for two years now, and we have never fought from implementing this.
starbucks is really expensive. try to make coffee yourself whenever you can, and even better, switch to tea. it’s better for you because it has antioxidants and doesn’t corrode your teeth.
you’re going to get sick of dorm food after a month, so you should try to stockpile snacks in your room in case there are those days you literally can’t take it anymore.
my friends teased me about my saying, “being lame is cooler than being cool,” but i stand by it. if you want to explore college life by going to parties and drinking, props to you and stay safe, but if you don’t want to do any of that, it’s ok too. sometimes for you, staying in on a friday night to relax is better and more fun than going out- hence, “cooler” than being “cool” and fun. i haven’t been to a single college party or drank alcohol, just because i’ve never been interested in that scene.
you’ll probably see everyone start to date around the one month mark. don’t feel pressured to date just because everyone else is. being single may actually be better for you, to learn about yourself and what you want in a partner. it also gives you more time to pursue your own interests.
studying in groups seems like a good idea at first until it’s 2 am in the dorm and you’ve been distracted for five hours. do what’s best for you, not what everyone else wants you to do.
bring earbuds everywhere. walking from building to building while listening to music can be both energizing and calming.
if you don’t want to talk to someone trying to recruit you into an organization or sell you something, ignore them or tell them you’re in a rush to get to class. don’t feel bad, you just don’t have the time or mental space for them.
treat all strangers as if you’ll never see them again to help yourself feel less awkward. retail workers have probably seen worse things at their checkout station. your dress probably isn’t that ugly. it’s ten times easier to not care what others think of you than to care constantly.
being angry about everything and complaining all the time is the best way to make people dislike you as a person. no one really cares if you think this professor is unfair or if the TA graded something wrong. everyone has their own lives. take some time to be angry about something, but then always take steps to fix what happened or cope with the aftermath. the friends you confide in will find it irritating if you don’t take their advice.
you will see annoying people less, but they will be ten times more annoying. Sorry
college should not be a fight against other people- if it is, you’re not learning. i know for premed, stem, and business, it can feel like you’re always competing, but college should be about competing against yourself to become a better person. you want to learn, you want to experience life for yourself, not anyone else.
