Things I wish I knew before college!

1: Make friends as soon as you get there. Being a freshman makes it super easy to talk to new people because you get to say “hey! I’m new here and I’m trying to meet new people and make new friends. Wanna hang out sometime?”

2: Learn to say no. There are going to be nights that going out seems so much more fun than doing stuff like homework or studying. You’re going to have to miss out on some fun stuff to stay on top of school. I’m not going to lie and say your friends won’t get mad at you. Truth is, they probably will. But the ones who get over it are the ones you know are keepers. Surround yourself with people who care a lot about school. It helps so much to be able to hold each other accountable !

3: Get involved in things you loved to do at home or things that you’ve always wanted to try. For me, that was getting involved in animal related things. I never lived a day of my life without having at least one pet at my house. Living in the dorms with no animals around made me feel SO lonely and I hated it! Getting involved in pre-vet club, a livestock show group and working at a barn are all things that made me significantly happier and got me out of the dorm. Most importantly it reminds me why I’m in college in the first place. (Pre-vet major)

4: Your going to loose weight and gain weight and nobody is going to notice but you! Seriously, college is way different than high school. Nobody cares.

5: Date all the boys (or girls) you want. This is your prime time to date! However, it’s really easy to get attached, especially when you’re able to do things that you weren’t able to do at home (for me it was spending the night) and one bad breakup could mean failing a semester! (Take it from me) I like to think if I would’ve held off on the sleepovers, at least the every night ones, it wouldn’t have felt like such a big change in my routine and I would’ve been able to adjust better to not having that person anymore. Have fun! But please don’t loose yourself. College has so many other important things to offer that are vital to your development as an individual.

6: Roommates are gross. Seriously, disgusting. You’d be surprised how some people live. And often times issues with mental health can make the filth even worse. Whatever you do, don’t stay in a situation that is effecting yours. You absolutely need a comfortable place to go home to and not having one can affect your grades, mental health and even physical health. DONT let anyone tell you it’s a part of college you must go through as a rite of passage. Every human deserves to live in a clean and safe environment. Don’t let anyone take that away from you! If you respect yourself at all, make it a priority to protect your home environment.

7: You’re going to miss your dog. I miss mine like never before and have cried thinking about it. Unfortunately, with pet fees and a busy college life, having a pet in college is extremely difficult. I also miss my family and especially my dad. I feel like it’s important to also note that if you have lost a family member, especially one that was part of your household, going to college can trigger a lot of pain and emotions you thought you worked through. I just wish someone would’ve told me that so I wouldn’t have felt so alone.

8: The rainbow comes after the storm! There have been so many times in college where I either wanted to give up on life as a whole or just college. College is an overwhelming experience in general and it makes everything harder to have to deal with it in an adult way. There are going to be moments where you ask if life is even worth it and I promise it is. If you can push through, do it by all means. But if you can’t, no degree is worth a life. It may seem like taking a break from school will mess up your plan, but it’s really not a huge deal. And if you decide it’s not for you, we are so lucky to be born in a time where the opportunities are large when it comes to non-college jobs. #collegefriends #collegerelationship #collegejourney #embracevulnerability