To the College Freshmen…
These first couple of weeks are an adjustment period. Your agenda is overflowing with a new class schedule and new due dates that all seem to be coming too fast. Your phone is filling up with information from all the new people you are meeting. Your wallet is slowly becoming slimmer because of all the cold brew purchases…
While the first few weeks away from home will be a little uncomfortable at times, your new life will quickly become the new normal. As a freshman, it’s obvious to focus on your schoolwork. However, what’s not as obvious is that you should also be taking the time out of your day to explore campus and all of the events on it– it’s worth it. While you won’t want to seem overeager to those around you, attendance at school events is one of the keys to success. Going to the involvement fair, your residence hall dinners and the football games will open so many new doors for you. Whether it be hearing about a new professional club you’ve never heard of or just meeting new friends, exploration never fails. After going to these initial events during the first few weeks of the semester, find what you want to stick with and get involved! Getting involved with organizations on campus, whether it be a club, a sport, a sorority, a magazine or a charity, allows you to develop relationships with new people, allows for leadership opportunities, and allows you to find your new home away from home. At big colleges especially, finding a group of people you connect with can find itself to be slightly challenging, and that’s why I encourage you all to be a part of something bigger than yourself!
Besides getting involved, as a college senior, one of the most important things throughout the past couple of years has been to always remember to put school first! Getting involved and becoming overwhelmed with the amount of time your extracurricular activities take up is all too common. However, it’s important to always remember why you’re even a part of those groups – because you go to a school that has them. It’s easy to get caught up in the thrill of a new leadership position on the executive board of your favorite club or hanging out with all of your newly found friends, but always remember that without school, you wouldn’t have those opportunities to begin with!
And while I could say a million other things to keep in mind as a college freshman, one of the most important things I can say to you as a senior is: keep your friends from before college around too. While you may drift apart or outgrow certain people, let the people you care for know that they are cared for! Do not lose touch with friends just because you now go to different schools. Make an effort! Friends are important. They will be there for you in the most difficult times and will make the world of a difference on those nights when you’re alone and homesick. Don’t shy away from new friends, but always remember about the ones that helped you become who you are now too!
Welcome to a brand new world. One where you will not just meet many new people, but one where you will also meet yourself too. Take every opportunity you’re given to explore and run with it– discover a new part of yourself each time. Allow yourself to say yes to new experiences, new friends and new hobbies and allow yourself to enjoy it, too! Welcome to college; welcome to making nonstop memories.
From a College Senior.
Courtesy: Adriana Roca