Sunday, May 8, 2016

College Journey: Things You Should Know (That I Was Told) Before Going Away To College

It's been about a month since my last college post and some time longer since I did one with legit advice.  Since the year is wrapping up I thought I'd sit back and think about either the advice I was told, or what I read online, and pick out the most important ones to help anyone out there who needs similar advice.

1. Making friends isn't easy, but it will happen.
Sometimes it takes a long time.  I didn't make good friends until second term (so, after Winter Break).  I had friends, but they were more casual and we didn't really cement our friendships until later.  But now?  They're some of my best friends and I don't think I'll ever stop being friends with them.  So don't give up hope if you haven't found your close friends right away; it's not always easy.

2. It's okay to do things alone.
By which I mean, it's okay to sit in the library and study alone.  Or eat dinner alone.  Or take a class without any friends.  No one will judge you!  Because, you know what?, we're all in the same boat and sometimes it just works out that you're alone.  It also helps to build the "adult" in you.

3. You will become an adult.
I mean, legally, yeah you'll be an adult if you aren't already, but you'll also start to take care of yourself in new ways.  It goes beyond doing your laundry, buying your own meals, and choosing how to spend you time.  It's something that will happen when you're met with circumstances you didn't prepare for and have to confront immediately.  Sometimes you'll be able to ask for help, but sometimes it's up to you, and you'll be a better person because of it, I promise.

4. You will have more leisure time.
It won't seem like it at first, but once you get your schoolwork under control (and that will happen) your days will open up.  Whether you choose to fill that time with Netflix binge's, clubs and organizations, sports, or reading is up to you.  But you get to choose and you'll have plenty of time to choose from.

5. You'll try new things.
And I don't mean you'll be doing all the drugs and drinking all the alcohol (that's dangerous, drinking all the alcohol), I mean you'll find yourself in new places and with new places come new experiences.  Enjoy them!  They may be things you'll never be able to do again for one reason or another.  Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way!

That's just some of my own advice.  If you have your own, please let me know in the comments!

5 comments:

  1. Thank you for the advice! I will be starting college this fall and I'm excited and terrified at the same time. The leisure time does sound pretty great though.

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    1. Best of luck! It's a hard adjustment, but when you adjust I think you'll really enjoy it (I know I do!).

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. Very good advice! Some of these you just need to experience first hand before it really begins to sink in :)

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    1. I agree. People told me these things and I knew what they were saying, but I didn't really understand. It was nice going into it with some idea of what it might be, even if that idea was shallow as compared to the real thing.

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  3. I think these are great thing you listed here! :-)

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Thank you so much for commenting! I love to hear from you and try to respond to comments once or twice a week. Thank you for your patience :)