Moving out, starting college, and living by yourself for the first time is a massive life change that you (most likely) are not prepared for. Personally, I read every blog and Pinterest article I could find about how to survive freshman year in college, but there were some things that people just didn’t have the guts to say. Luckily, I have lived through it, and I am here to give you the honest truth on your freshman year in college. Keep reading for 15 things no one will tell you about your freshman year at UF!
This is totally normal. Freshman year is shocking in a lot of ways. These feelings will subside soon and you will realize there’s no where else you’d rather be. I promise, these will end up being the best years of your life.
There are so many people on campus, and that can make it hard to find where you fit in, but don’t worry, there is a place for you. Get involved, put yourself out there, and be you; your future friends are searching just like you are.
All those fun shopping trips, dinners out, and spontaneous adventures that make your college experience what it is, do cost money. The good news is that everyone is equally broke, so it becomes something to bond over and fun to try and plan fun trips without spending a dime. College campuses have tons of free events, so go to those! Is it really even college if you haven’t eaten Ramen noodles and mac n’cheese for the past month?
Turns out when you don’t have parents cooking for you every night, pizza and Chinese food are excellent and easy substitutes; however, they do not exactly translate into that toned summer bod you’ve been buying bathing suits for. Walk everywhere on campus, make gym buddies, and put those yoga pants to a real use, and maybe choose the salad every once in a while.
You may have been the straight A, perfect GPA, honors student in high school, but those days are over. Freshman year will test every limit and boundary you have. You will fail at something at least once and that is perfectly okay. It’s one assignment, one test, one grade in the scheme of about 4 years. That does not measure your value or intelligence!
Moving away to college is a huge culture shock; after all, everything you do now is completely up to your own discretion. The atmosphere of “sex, drugs, and rock & roll” surrounds you every night (and every day really), but you don’t need to do it all. Partying hard may define some people’s college experience, but your time in college is up to you. You can say “no” to the parties, the late nights, and the peer pressure your parents and teachers have warned you about for years. Have a movie night, study in the library, binge watch Gossip Girl (again)-do whatever makes you happy!
There are tens of thousands of people attending your college, there are thousands of people enrolled in the same course with the same professor as you, and there are hundreds of people in each of your classes. Naturally, the university and your professors want everyone to succeed, but they will not remind you of due dates and give you the individualized time you are used to in high school. Your success freshman year and the rest of college depends on you and you alone, so buckle up buttercup. It’s your time to shine.
Sometimes you just need to call your mom and vent about your day; she will appreciate it more than you know, too. The familiarity and comfort of your family is one of the greatest feelings in this new strange, high-stress world. Going home for the weekend has also never sounded so nice: it’s quiet, it smells nice, and it has free, real meals. That town you were “stuck” in for so many years will become your refuge now.
About a month or two into college you will have an identity crisis. You’ll question if your major is right, no matter how much you think you know what you want. There are hundreds of classes and clubs available for you to explore, and numerous resources on campus ready to help you figure things out. Freshman year is all about discovering yourself, so don’t be embarrassed of this.
Yes, I know we all woke up at 6AM for high school, but somehow that ability is now so far gone. Even a 9:30 AM class is deadly and you will justify skipping it EVERY week (sorry, mom and dad).
Business major? Oh, you must love sitting in a cubicle crunching numbers every day. Political Science major? So what are you actually going to do with that? Pre-med track? Are you sure you’re smart enough to be a doctor? Engineering? What a nerd. The good news is that your major doesn’t define you. We all know the stereotypes for our respective majors are wrong, but people will judge you based on it and that’s just something you learn to deal with. If you are passionate enough, then it is right and you will make it work.
This applies to your eyeliner and your schoolwork. It is crucial to learn how to do assignments on the fly because you will forget things, you will mismanage your time, and you will have a lot on your plate. But, ultimately, college isn’t something to “just get through.” This is a degree, this is a career, this is your life. Make sure you love and understand what you’re doing.
You will see people wearing sunglasses in class to protect their hangover, girls wearing t-shirts so big that you question if they are wearing pants, backpacks that double your body weight, people wandering around in pajamas and slippers because sometimes “real” clothes just don’t fit the schedule. Luckily, you can rock the leggings as pants, the t-shirt you slept in last night, and the Birkenstocks and socks look, because, honestly, people respect that kind of confidence.
“This is the beginning of the rest of your life” isn’t just a saying, this really is it. You have no one supervising you, giving you a curfew, helping you fill out paperwork, or balancing your financial aid. Everything you do is up to you these days. In 4 years you will be starting a career, paying back those student loans, and starting the rest of your life, so now is the time to be a “real” adult, no matter how scary.
These are the best years of your life and you will never get them back. Spend too much money, skip some classes, party too much, and have all the pizza and coffee you desire. Whether or not it seems like a good idea now, it will probably be fun and will at least make for an amazing story in a few months.
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