So throughout my years of experience thus far, I have compiled a list of things about college that no one tells you before you leave home;
1. Your roommate(s) probably won't be your bestie.
Sorry guys. But it's true. Of course, there is the off chance that you'll get a really awesome roomie and you will be BFF's for life. But probably not. You will probably end up with a psychopathic roommate who blames you for stealing things when you're not even home. Or a hoarder. Or a slob, or any of the thousands of other colorful characters that live on college campuses.
2. You don't always have to let your teacher know you were gone.
Yeah, yeah. In high school it wasn't like you could just SKIP class for no reason. But here in college? Sometimes you need a sick day to catch up on sleep because your psychopathic roommate was singing opera at 3 am. And you don't have to tell your teacher that you missed class. Some professors care if you miss class, but a lot of them don't have an attendance policy.
BUT. Be careful! You need to make sure you're going to class often enough to actually pass the class! I cannot stress this enough!
3. Everyone says that college won't have all the drama from high school.
But it will. And in some cases, it might even be WORSE than high school. I KNOW! Right?! Well, it's true. And here's why: because you would think that when people start college, they begin to think of themselves as older, and more mature than when they were in high school, right? WRONG. This is because a lot of people, most, in fact, are still in a high school mindset. This can lead to creating and causing more drama. Like with your roommates, for example.
4. Classes here are a LOT harder than high school.
Get used to it. I know for me especially, high school was super easy. I never worried about homework or studying, or anything like that. But if being in college has taught me anything, it's that studying is IMPORTANT. SO JUST DO IT. Nike. See what I did there? Ha ha... anyway.
5. People will break the rules.
Your roommates will do it. You will do it. Everyone will do it. Whether it's drinking underage, getting fake ID's and going clubbing, doing drugs, or whatever, people will do it. And your job now, is to decide whether or not you want to be around it. Because some rule-breaking is pretty harmless. But other rule-breaking can end your future career or college experience. So make sure you are always making wise choices.
6. Don't forget to have fun.
Find some friends, watch movies, eat ice cream, binge watch "Orange is the New Black," on Netflix(you know you want to!). Do something fun and crazy! You will lose your marbles if you spend all of your time stuck in your room with your nose in your books.
7. EXERCISE!
Seriously. You'll thank me later. Or rather, your BODY will thank me later. The freshman 15 doesn't always hit you freshman year. Sometimes, it takes a year or two. So make sure you're not just sitting around all day watching TV and playing XBOX. You'll also feel a heck of a lot better if you get some physical activity every day.
8. Get a job.
But NOT in your first year of college. Give yourself a year, or at least a semester, to get used to your new environment and make some new friends. I didn't get a job my freshman year, and I couldn't be happier with that choice. It really helped me get acclimated and make friends.
But, DO get a job after your first year. You'll want the extra cash later. Trust me. If you ever want to move off campus, it's vital that you start saving like, now. I promise.
With that being said, have a fun, safe, and crazy college experience. Supposedly, it's the best years of our lives.
- Julie Suzanne
