We’ve all been there: freshman year. All of your anticipation for this new, exciting time in your life culminating into a socially awkward flop into adulthood. It happens to the best of us. But, don’t stress-because I can guarantee you that you are not alone. We’ve all made the same mistakes. If you acknowledge freshman year as the learning experience that it is, then you will do just fine.
1. Walking into the wrong classroom
Let’s be real – some upperclassmen are still guilty of doing this. But that first week when you’re still trying to navigate the sprawling campus of Georgia College, walking into a classroom full of condemning stares is mortifying. But, it happens. My freshman year I didn’t realize I was in the wrong class until the syllabus was passed out…. Yikes. So I had to excuse myself and frantically search for my actual class – which I was now 15 minutes late for.
2. Being late to class
Being late to class is another horror show on the merry-go-round that is freshman year. Whether you overslept, got lost, or you just hit that mid-semester “I don’t care” funk, tardiness is a breeding ground for social anxiety. The second the classroom door creaks open (and of course it creaks) twenty pairs of eyes snap up to look at you. Then you have to begin the process of getting to your seat. As everyone silently watches you climb over desks and you can only pray your professor doesn’t make a snide remark about “how kind it was of you to show up.”
3. Going to the bathroom
At Georgia College, freshmen are required to live on campus. For some, this is the first time they’ve ever had to share a living space with someone else. Multiply that by 4 awkward points for each person sharing one bathroom. No one should have to schedule a specific time for a bowel movement, but if you want as few embarrassing interactions as possible, that’s the way to do it. During my freshman year I was not above going at 2 AM when all of my roommates were guaranteed to be asleep.
4. Living with your roommate and their significant other
On the subject of roommates, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. If you’ve yet to be sex-iled by your roommate and their partner thank your lucky stars. We get that young love is great, but where am I supposed to sleep?! I have an 8 AM! If you’ve yet to set up a system of communication with your roommate when it comes to “company” get on it! Trust me, that’s something you don’t want to walk in on.
5. Chores – How do I do them?
Figuring out how to do your laundry can be rife with socially inept situations. If your eyes never leave your phone you could honestly be wearing a sign that says: “Don’t mind me- I’m just googling how to operate a front loading washer.” But don’t worry – none of your peers have used them either. As long as you end up with clean clothes, how you got there shouldn’t matter. But be sure you set an alarm for when your laundry is done or else you risk someone moving your clothes for you. And having an unknown person handle your delicates is a whole other ball of wax.
Over all, freshman year is filled with opportunities to be embarrassed. Some may seem life-ruining in nature, but rest assured that we’ve all been there. If you can make it through this one year, then next year you will navigate the waters of college with all of the skills freshman year gave you.
**Co-authored by my younger sister, Morgan Poe, who is currently trying to survive her own freshman year.