English
A lot changes when you move from high school to college. You’ve traded your pleated plaid skirt for jeans and t-shirts too big for you, Capri sun for Monster and shots of espresso, pencils and notebooks for keyboards, the comfort of your own home for a cold and smelly dorm, and twenty trusted classmates for a class of two hundred complete strangers.
Mummy is now a phone call away instead of a door away, and instead of coming home to a piping container of daal, you find yourself shuffling around your dorm freezer for another Hot Pocket.
The college semester is officially itching closer to midterms and finals, and you don’t know how to feel.
Your palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy. There’s vomit on your sweater already, or maybe it was mom’s spaghetti? You’re nervous, but on the surface, you look calm and ready. Just kidding, you’re a wreck.
You’re excited for that fresh, new start you’ve craved since Becky called out your mustache in middle school, but at the same time, you’re nervous. You wonder if you’ll make friends if people will bother to text you back, or even text you first. You’re concerned about your grades, your well-being, your lifestyle, your study habits, life skills, and more, but you’re simultaneously ready for the best four years of your life.
To think that you’re entering a new phase of your life where your success is solely dependent on your actions, the deduction of your parents’ constant nagging and reminders, a whole new place—it’s a lot to take in. It can be frustrating, it can be enlightening, or scary. Whatever you feel, I’m here to ease it all. Below are some tips I have gathered through extensive research on college woes that are sure to prepare you for success in the big, bad real world.
You’ve graduated, and it’s time you made yourself feel like you did. Although it’s great to keep in touch with your old friends and teachers, it’s time for a fresh start. How can you make space for the new if you’re too busy dwelling in the old? Instead of texting your old friends during lunch, challenge yourself to chime a hello to the redhead across from you at the library. It’s time to leave the past in the past and gaze into the eyes of the future, however, bright and frightening it may seem.
College is the time to explore. Take the time here to get to know the people around you, instead of just forcing yourself to be friends with the first person who says “hi” to you. When you’re surrounded by about forty thousand people every day, you have no excuse to not envelop yourself in good vibes and people you love and sympathize with. Although it may seem difficult, worry not: you will ultimately find your niche and people who match and compliment your personality. All it takes is a little effort and time.
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Yes, college is about discovering you and falling in love with the person you’re meant to be but never forget the REAL reason you’re there: to study. To make something of your life, to challenge yourself, and to walk across the stage with that hundred watt smile and Naani’s blessings. There will always be parties. There will seldom be exams. The choice is yours.
As one person in a class of three hundred, it’s normal for you to underestimate your worth and think that your professor will never actually know your name. Correction: he or she will know your name if you constantly reinforce it. Take a coffee to him or her during office hours, ask thoughtful questions in class and email your concerns. Not only will you get to know all about their extraordinary lives and stories, you’ll be motivated to do better in class because you feel comfortable asking questions.
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I know how busy it can be between labs, night outs, exams, and activities, but don’t forget that working out is equally important. Take a jog on campus or spend an hour at the college gym to cross “workout” off your agenda. Exercising will stimulate brain activity, enhance your memory, and most importantly, get you a cute gym selfie, which, let’s face it, is the most important.
Keep up with your bills, financial aid, budgeting, finances, costs—all of it. Make spreadsheets, do the math, and give your bank account more than you take. It’s as simple as you make it out to be.
Perhaps you’re confused about your major (Do you still want to be a doctor like your parents asked? Or an engineer? Or a lawyer?) and are you on the right track?
To solidify your vision, ask yourself a few questions: What do you value in your life? How do you picture your life to turn out post graduation? What will keep you happy?
Maybe you don’t know all the answers, but thinking about these answers will nudge you in the right direction.
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In high school, you might have gotten away with cramming, but leave that in the past for good. In college, your planner should be your best friend. During your first week of school syllabus week, go through the schedules and mark them in your agenda. Divide up your assignments and schedule everything according to your study habits.
Your roommate doesn’t have to be your best friend, but be sure to set up some basic house rules to avoid conflicts. The last thing you need on top of everything that happens in college is roommate drama.
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It’s true that many people meet the loves of their lives in college, and it’s also true that you don’t have to. Don’t rush into things and take everything as a “sign.” Just be a kind, decent person and the right person will find you when the time is right.
With that, good luck with your future endeavors and college rollercoaster. Remember that it’s true that everything is changing, but it’s a bad thing.
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