I hope you're excited about your first year of college.
First of all, congratulations on finishing high school! I know it was a rough four years and that you’re stoked about coming to college in the fall. Keep a countdown on your phone for the day that you’ll move into your dorm room and don’t forget to live in the moment this summer. Don’t binge-watch Netflix or work every day- you’ll have time to do that once you’re in college. Because in three short months, you and your high school best friends will most likely be heading separate ways… maybe even to other states.
I know you’re excited to leave behind your town and start fresh, but just keep in mind that the day you leave your home of 18 years is one of the saddest day you’ll experience. Hugging your pets, friends, and family goodbye is one thing, but watching your parents drive away and leaving you alone in your tiny dorm room is bound to bring you to tears. So don’t be embarrassed when they hug you goodbye and cry in front of the girls on your floor. Hug them back, thank them, and tell them you’ll call them at least once a week.
Once you survive the emotional move-in day, you can conquer anything. The first two weeks of college are filled with unfamiliar faces and experiences. So, GET INVOLVED. Go to the activities fair, even if your roommate says it’s lame. Sign up for clubs that even slightly interest you- Ultimate Frisbee, anyone? I strongly encourage you to go Greek, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. But do NOT sit in your room and exclude yourself from having fun. Go to the football tailgates on Saturday mornings, take pictures of your campus in the fall when the leaves turn gold, and most importantly- talk to strangers. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make friends in college!
Don’t forget that college is about making mistakes and finding yourself. Change your major even if your parents have a heart attack. Go out on a Wednesday night with the girls who live next door to you. Go on a date with that guy who seems totally wrong for you; you never know what may happen. Live in the moment, take too many pictures, and laugh a lot. With that being said, don’t completely blow off your school work either. Go to the library with your friends on shambly Sundays and piece the memories of that weekend together while you work through your calculus homework. College requires a lot more effort than the senior blow-off classes in high school did, so take it seriously.
In short, enjoy your freshman year. Embrace the gross freshmen dorms, eat too much pizza, vent to one of your new friends while you’re fighting with your long-distance boyfriend, dress up for the entire Halloween weekend, and post way too many Instagram pictures. Because before you know it, you’ll be packing up your dorm room and hugging your freshman year roommate goodbye.
I know you’re excited to leave behind your town and start fresh, but just keep in mind that the day you leave your home of 18 years is one of the saddest day you’ll experience. Hugging your pets, friends, and family goodbye is one thing, but watching your parents drive away and leaving you alone in your tiny dorm room is bound to bring you to tears. So don’t be embarrassed when they hug you goodbye and cry in front of the girls on your floor. Hug them back, thank them, and tell them you’ll call them at least once a week.
Once you survive the emotional move-in day, you can conquer anything. The first two weeks of college are filled with unfamiliar faces and experiences. So, GET INVOLVED. Go to the activities fair, even if your roommate says it’s lame. Sign up for clubs that even slightly interest you- Ultimate Frisbee, anyone? I strongly encourage you to go Greek, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. But do NOT sit in your room and exclude yourself from having fun. Go to the football tailgates on Saturday mornings, take pictures of your campus in the fall when the leaves turn gold, and most importantly- talk to strangers. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make friends in college!
Don’t forget that college is about making mistakes and finding yourself. Change your major even if your parents have a heart attack. Go out on a Wednesday night with the girls who live next door to you. Go on a date with that guy who seems totally wrong for you; you never know what may happen. Live in the moment, take too many pictures, and laugh a lot. With that being said, don’t completely blow off your school work either. Go to the library with your friends on shambly Sundays and piece the memories of that weekend together while you work through your calculus homework. College requires a lot more effort than the senior blow-off classes in high school did, so take it seriously.
In short, enjoy your freshman year. Embrace the gross freshmen dorms, eat too much pizza, vent to one of your new friends while you’re fighting with your long-distance boyfriend, dress up for the entire Halloween weekend, and post way too many Instagram pictures. Because before you know it, you’ll be packing up your dorm room and hugging your freshman year roommate goodbye.