Things I Wish I was Told as a First Year

Anna Shew

Staff Writer

To say the least, being a freshman in college is so different from being a freshman in high school. Yes, it’s a different environment, and you are meeting new people, but there is so much more to this change. For many, it’s living away from home for the first time, maybe leaving your hometown, or saying goodbye to your parents for an extended period of time.

While there is no shortage of the “best advice for freshmen” you could find on the internet, here is what I wish I knew at the start of my freshman year.

Be kind. It is probably the easiest piece of advice I have, but it will make the biggest difference in your life. Being kind doesn’t mean you have to invite someone to sit with you everyday at lunch, or invite them over to hang out, it can mean saying hi to someone new, smiling at them or even helping someone use the printer system in the library. You never know the positive change something small can make.

You are your biggest advocate. Here, no one knows you. You have to tell people here the basic facts about you that your people at home already knew, whether that’s your new friends, a professor or even your coach. Being your own advocate means going to office hours or reaching out to a coach when you are struggling at practice, because if you have any issue, there is someone who is willing to help, you just have to ask.

Call your family and friends. Your people back at home still care about you even when you are away. They want to hear how your day was, what homework you have, and what your plans for the weekend are, so tell them! A five minute phone call on the way to class can make all the difference not just in your day, but also in theirs.

Get involved. This doesn’t mean you have to be in 10 clubs and have a jammed schedule everyday, but try out some clubs, find a few that you really enjoy and are passionate about, and commit to them. And if you don’t like any, start one of your own!

It is ok to stay in. Especially at the beginning of freshman year, it feels like there are so many opportunities to take and things to do. While it is important to put yourself out there, it is also ok to stay in and chill. After a super long week, sometimes the best thing you can do is chill out, watch Netflix and go to bed early.

“Everybody makes mistakes” – Hannah Montana I would love to tell you everything will be perfect freshman year, but it won’t. You will make some mistakes, and have to learn some lessons the hard way. But be patient with yourself because there will also be many great times! You will look back at all the happy memories and be proud of how far you’ve come, so just have fun along the way.