So you’ve made it to college. Congratulations. College is a big leap from high school—there’s a world of new people to meet and new things to do. For many of you, it’s your first time away from home, and it’s a huge adjustment. I’d like to throw out some advice on surviving that transition.
First things first: Go to class! It may seem like common sense, but it can be very tempting to skip class if it’s early in the morning or if it’s a boring lecture, especially since attendance isn’t mandatory for many classes. However, you can be set back quite a bit by missing just one lecture, let alone two or three.
Second of all, get enough sleep! There are way too many sleep-deprived people on this campus—there’s no need for any more of them. Don’t take this the wrong way; there will be many times during your college career when you’ll need to pull all-nighters to get your work done, but these shouldn’t be regular occurrences. Plan out what you need to do ahead of time and don’t leave everything until the last minute.
Don’t forget to eat either. There are times when life can become hectic, but just like sleep deprivation, skipping meals isn’t a good way to get some extra time. As a freshman, you have to have one of the meal plans with continuous dining, so use it! Try to eat three meals a day. You’ll feel better, and as a result you’ll do better in and out of the classroom.
There’s a lot to do here too. With over 100 clubs and organizations, it’s not too tough to find something that interests you. Find a club that you like and spend some time there. You’ll make great friends, and you might even learn a few things too. Remember, there’s a lot to be learned outside of the classroom.
With that said, don’t overextend yourself and get involved in more groups than you have time for. While there is a lot of great stuff here to do, your first job is to be a student. It can be easy to become so involved in a club that you miss classes and don’t do your homework. This is not a good thing. Personally, this is something that I let happen, and I am still suffering the consequences.
Remember, these are supposed to be the best years of your life. Work hard and do the best that you can, but also try to have a little fun while you’re here.
