Truths: A Freshman's Perspective on College

The semester is winding down. The final stretch approaching. Students scramble to finish assignments while fantasizing about Winter Break. Professors finalize essay questions. Hours of studying quickly turn into all nighters.

I am almost done with my first semester of college. I know everyone says this but it really did fly by. I feel like just yesterday I was saying goodbye to my parents while tears streamed down my face. Now finals are approaching and stress seems to be lingering in the air. I've learned some things in the past few months that I thought I would share.

1. Always, always, always study as ahead of time as you can. I personally found that this strategy worked best for me, and I was able to maintain all A's because of this. While my friends were annoyed at their midterm grades, I was satisfied. Remember that massed practice is not as effective and distributed practice is the way to go.

2. Not everyone parties, nor do you need to. My friends from my home town and my relatives always seem to ask me when I get home, "do you party?" I mean, I do go to a notorious party school, so I get why they ask. I usually say no and almost feel embarrassed by it. But why? Many people don't party. I personally do not find partying that enjoyable, so why would I force myself to do it. There are many other ways to harness your new found independence. Don't feel like you need to party to have fun!

3. It's ok to question who you are. I came into college undecided and I still am. Things are gonna change as you learn more about yourself, especially since you aren't living with your parents anymore (unless you are living at home which is totally fine too!). Our brains are still developing and won't stop until we are 25. Don't worry if you don't have everything planned out yet.

4. Give yourself Grace. This sounds cheesy, but it's true! Sometimes it's so easy to get swept up in the assignments, the deadlines, the extracurriculars. It's important to do well, but it is also important to take care of yourself. Spend time with friends, watch a movie, do a face mask. Life is crazy, and it's important to reward yourself. Plus, who knows what's gonna happen in the future. It's important to live in the present and respect where you are right now.

5. Get a single dorm if you can. I have a single dorm this year. A.k.a. I have no roommate. Whenever I tell people I don't have a roommate, they are usually curious or say that they wish they had a single too. While I know not every college has singles or not everyone can afford one, I've truly enjoyed having a single. Firstly, you can do whatever you want, sleep whenever you want, have people over whenever you want. It is truly a game changer and has led me to feel like I am truly being independent. Plus, it's much easier to get work done. When I study with someone, I'm usually not as productive since I usually just want to talk to them. This way, you don't have to worry about a distracting roommate. I could go on and on about having a single and its benefits, but I think you get the gist!

6. You have to make things happen, not other people. One of my mom's friends told me this right before I left for college. I think this is particularly true for big schools and universities. Professors aren't gonna reach out to you if you're struggling. Make sure you take advantage of office hours, TAs, tutoring resources, etc. All of my TAs were super helpful when I was confused and needed help. At the end of the day, your professor most likely doesn't even know you, so you have to fight for the grade/academic achievement that you want. Secondly, you have to put yourself out there to make friends. I learned this the hard way. I stuck to one of my friends from high school and didn't really branch out. This led to many lonely nights because I had no one to hang out with. While I was able to get a lot of work done because of this, I still wish I would have branched out! Social support is super important and actually helps mitigate the effects of stress. Everyone is just as nervous and uncomfortable as you probably are so don't be afraid to say hi. Lastly, simply take advantage of every resource your college has to offer. They are there for you but only if you make the effort to find them.

The world is your oyster! College is definitely not easy, but I have learned so much about myself throughout this semester, and I know that I will continue to do so. I hope this advice helped you as you navigate your college journey or even if you are simply starting something new. I wish you good luck and happiness throughout your journey.