Recently one of my good friends posted ten things that she learned from her first year at college on her Facebook status. Thus, inspiring me to take that further and divulge my own experiences from the past two semesters of my freshman year in college. But, aren’t kids supposed to go to school to learn…from the books? Naw, that’s all wrong. After the crazy amount of debt, its the little moments and laughter that are retrieved from the memory and brought up in conversations, not so much points from a lecture. And then maybe one or two ‘smart words’ are brought up from that intro psychology class. The point is, college brings out the good, the bad and every direction life can throw at you. I’m just here to figure out what my first year actually offered and who I spent wasted breaths on.
- Books: While entering a public or private college, you’re going to want to save every single penny you have to your name. One major way of doing that is to rent your books. If you buy them new, you’ll be kicking yourself for it at the end of the semester. Also, wait and get double confirmation from your professor before you know exactly what books you will need for a class instead of assuming and spending money you do not have. You could also go with my route and spend an entire semester scanning psychology chapters into your computer so that you can read them and not spend $90. It was certainly a pain but so much easier to take notes side by side on my laptop. Definitely another option if the wallet is full of dust and cobwebs.
- RateMyProfessor.com: This website is such a big help to all students when choosing classes and deciding what professor they’d rather have. The site is updated a fair amount of times and gives you the true description of any professor.
- Summer J.O.B.: Pretty much, you’ll be dirt broke in college. Unless you’re plain ole spoiled, well off, or have a part time job, you will need some type of spending money in order to not be succumbed to a dark and lonely dorm room. Get a summer job, or even a winter break job, if you can go back to a job that you previously worked at, it would be perfect. Then, even if you have a ton of spending money, act like you’re broke so that you don’t spend it all 🙂
- Parties: Obviously it is part of the college experience but ill let the reader decide on this one. There are people you will find who don’t mind staying inside on a weekend and then there are the people who drink Tuesday and Wednesday, then go out Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I suppose if you properly prioritize then it can work for you but without a good group of people, parties can be lame.
- SAFETY: So, you go to a party… what do you bring? As little as possible. Seriously though, you do not need more than ten dollars with you in your pocket. Alongside that, your license and school id and whatever keys you need to get back into your dorm. Don’t bring the lip gloss and don’t bring your gum because it won’t be a fashion show. College parties do not hold up to the media standard that is laid out for them. If you bring more than what you need, you will lose all of it and you will be extremely mad the next morning. Be smart and safe. Also, please please please do not let another person take advantage of you, especially a male. Guys are pigs and do not have limits and apparently do not know that no means no. There’s good/nice guys out there, I promise.
- Trust: I’ll keep it short and sweet; do not trust anyone. Sure, go make friends, get a bestie or whatever, but at this point in your life, everyone is in it for themselves and will do whatever it takes to cover their backside. It’s terribly sad but incredibly true with a large sum of people in this world.
- Change: ATTENTION you are no longer in high school, so stop being a bro, or thinking that everyone will like you, and grow up. Crazy I know, the world no longer revolves around you. Get used to it, this is the real world. Well, at least the last step before the real world. But, now you have to go to class at a certain time, without any type of bell or alarm system so that means staying up all night and sleeping in right? Yeah, you’ll get sleep and then you’ll barely sleep. Personally, I’ve never had to pull an all nighter because I think those are ridiculous and completely unnecessary, but my freshman year was also relatively easy.. Be conscious of your actions and aware of the consequences.
- Find Yourself: My aunt always told me that between the age 18 and 25, a person changes dramatically in various ways. Remember that high school pretty much sucked for the most part and now your life is in your hands for college. Make what you want out of it. Join clubs and do sports. Do what makes you happy and avoid negativity at all costs. This is the time to have fun but focus on your future and current education and screwing that up would not be ideal.
- Enjoy the ride: Plain and simple. College years are fun and important so try and make the best out of what you have. Don’t complain, help others and stay active.
It’ll probably make some people mad that I didn’t end on an even number but that’s where I avoid perfection… Anyway, take these tips any which way or just enjoy my sarcastic, witty statements.
“I’ve learned one thing, and that’s to quit worrying about stupid things. You have four years to be irresponsible here, relax. Work is for people with jobs. You’ll never remember class time, but you’ll remember the time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So stay out late. Go out with your friends on a Tuesday when you have a paper due on Wednesday. Spend money you don’t have. Drink ’til sunrise. The work never ends, but college does…”
~Tom Petty