1. The third floor of the library:
I know this from experience; they mean it’s the quiet floor when they say it’s the quiet floor. One day, my freshman year, I answered the phone on the third floor and received so many glares and rolling of the eyes from people around me. I clearly didn’t know any better; but now I would do the same thing if someone answered their phone or was giggling with a friend while on the third floor.
Even though some people can get a little irritable if you make the slightest of noises, the third floor and the rest of the library is a great resource that I didn’t take advantage of my freshman year.
2. Invest in snow boots and/or Chacos:
We all know by now how much snow Boone can get during winter. I learned very quickly that I needed to give in and buy a good pair of snow boots to survive the winter snow storms. Duck boots are a great purchase, as well as the Sorrell boots that are sold at Mast General Store.
Chacos are also a staple fashion item here at App. When the weather gets warm (above 50 degrees) everyone and their mom can be seen with Chacos on. Mast General is also a good place to purchase these, as well as Footsloggers.
3. Watch what you eat:
The “freshman 15” is a real thing. Being able to grab Chik-fil-a or pizza everyday can definitely add a few pounds. I’m not saying eat from the salad bar every day, but just limit the amount of late night pizza and Cookout runs you make.
Being introduced to so much food of all hours of the day can be overwhelming at times, especially if you start to get stressed with school work. Whenever I would get stressed I would head straight to the dessert bars around campus to get ice cream or a brownie. Stick to healthier snacks like trail mix, fruit, or crackers to get you through late night cram sessions.
4. Laugh at yourself:
It’s okay to laugh at the “freshman mistakes” you might make. It’s okay to laugh if you get lost on campus on the first day of classes, most professors are understanding of situations like that. It’s okay if you’re caught wearing a lanyard around your neck one day, or if you have to hold your class schedule in your hand on the first day of class. For me, it took me a long time to figure out how everything works on a college campus. Just know, that we were all there a couple of years ago, and on day you’ll be able to spot the new freshmen around campus.
5. Embrace it:
I have some really awesome memories from freshman year. Embrace your first year of college and enjoy it! At times, freshman year can be hard. I got really homesick at times, and really stressed out at times. But all these things get better! Learn to love campus life, your dorm room, and your roommate, and keep a positive attitude. Your freshman year is something you will never forget.