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Prioritizing people is key
Friendships and relationships with people from high school can only be continued if they are prioritized. Life gets busy, but you’ll soon find out who wants to stay in your life based on who makes an effort. A lot of people seem to fade away once the friendship isn’t as convenient and those who truly care about you will come out of the woodwork.
2. Facetime is a gift
When you can’t physically be near someone, seeing their face and hearing their voice is the next best thing. Talking to my family and closest friends through Facetime and Skype has allowed me to remain close to those who matter.
3. Let yourself start over
High school was great, don’t get me wrong. There were so many amazing memories and people I met there that I wouldn’t trade for the world. While it was full of great times, there were also some things I want to leave in the past. The joy in college is that you get to completely start over. You get to be the best, most authentic version of yourself and people will love you for it.
4. Your first night will probably suck
I threw up my first night, and I’ve heard of countless others who cried on their first day or night on campus. It’s one of the scariest things you’ve ever done so don’t beat yourself up over not being full steam ahead right off the bat.
5. You’re allowed to be enthusiastic about things!
There’s no “cool kids club” for the people who think they’re above the dance or the event or the floor meal, so don’t think you’ll earn brownie points for trying to be apathetic. Instead of having an attitude about everything you’re doing, get involved with things you actually enjoy. That way you won’t have to fake anything.
6. Snail mail becomes cool again
There is literally nothing better than checking your mailbox and having a letter from a far-away friend or family member. Let writing letters become casual and natural again. Take time out of your day to write to them, it’s the best surprise in the world to keep one back.
7. Take study breaks
One of the main struggles I’ve run into is feeling guilty about the time spent not studying. With so much on your plate, it’s easy to feel like any time not spent hitting the books is a waste and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Grades are important, but so is being a well-rounded person. Especially at the beginning, cut out time to bond with other kids on your floor when you aren’t studying, or calling a friend or family member.
8. Consider Greek life
I knew since I was a little girl that I wanted to be involved in greek life but actually making the decision to go through formal recruitment was a big step. The majority of students on campus aren’t involved in Greek life, so you have to seek it out a little more than you normally would at a state school. That being said, while the recruitment weekend was long and tiresome, opening my bid on bid day was so exciting and one of the happiest moments of college so far. There are so many stereotypes about sororities, but they couldn’t be further from the truth.
Yes, fun activities, t-shirts, and glitter are very much a part of being in a sorority, but you gain so much more than that. I’ve already gained a community of strong, driven, and confident women who cheer me on as much as I’m cheering them on. If you’re on the fence about it, I would recommend going through recruitment and try it! If you don’t like it, at least you don’t have to deal with “what ifs” for the rest of your college experience.
9. Going to bed early and getting 8 hours of sleep will change your life
My dad has harped on me to do this since I was in middle school, but I didn’t actually start practicing this until I was managing my own time completely. Going to bed on the earlier side gives me so much more energy the following day, especially when I can be productive before 9am (that’s almost unheard of, right?).
10. Progress isn’t a straight line
One day you feel like you’re on top of the world, and the next you feel like everything is too much. The transition to college is hard and there’s no getting around it. Stress can make you feel emotionally blocked so don’t give yourself a hard time if you have a bad day or week. Your whole life turned upside down, cut yourself some slack and carve out time for self-care.
11. Let people in
It’s easy to be guarded and not want to tell people the not-so-pretty parts of your life, especially if you’re currently struggling. However, confiding in friends will bring you closer and solidify those relationships. Instead of looking at your struggles as purely negative, look at them as a chance to connect with others and let it bring you closer to the people who are becoming your core group of friends.
12. Keep a planner!
I cannot stress this one enough. I kept a planner in high school and have always been avid about having dates written down, but it wasn’t until college that I started getting so busy that I actually needed one. Invest in one that you like to look at and write in and jot down everything you have to do for the day, including homework and appointments. It’s a game changer.
13. Call your family
This transition is hard for them too! Having one less person in the house takes a toll on the people you left behind, so don’t forget to include them in your life as much as you can. Snapchat and texting is great but there’s no replacement for hearing someone’s voice or seeing their face over facetime.