For my freshmen

As my freshman year comes to an end, I've decided it would be a good idea to give some sort of advice I wish I received going into college. Even if you aren't in your late teens and going to college, even if you're a 50-year-old businesswoman or a stay-at-home dad, or graduated and unemployed, I feel this advice is universal and applies to more morals than it does age.

1) Do things for you.

College is very much a party scene and personally, I am more of a hot tea, skincare, and checked-off to-do list towards the end of the night kind of person than a Thirsty Thursday to Sunday Funday college student. Prioritize your peace and do what you are most content and comfortable with. Never do things just because the first group of people you meet at college are doing it and you don't want to be excluded. In the long run, you will be a less pressurized student and a more self-satisfied and happy human.

2) Not everyone has your best interest at heart.

When you first arrive at college, you and everyone else are searching for the same thing: friends. Everyone is in the same boat. Everyone is leaving the only place they've ever known, home, for a new one with unfamiliar faces and a tinier, less comfortable bed. Just because the first group of individuals you encounter are approachable, smile broadly, and help you feel a little less isolated in a crowd of thousands of college students doesn't mean they are your forever friends. It doesn't mean you are obliged to them, or owe them anything, and truly doesn't mean you can trust them wholeheartedly like you can your hometown friends who signed your broken arm's cast with big letters when you were 5. Protect and put yourself first, for in college, you are the only person you know for sure.

3) Learn how to use DegreeWorks and Blackboard and choose courses that fit your requirements.

This seems to be a huge issue for most students. I have to admit the software in college is not as easy as the typical Google Classroom High schools use to assign work. BlackBoard and DegreeWorks in all honesty suck, but if you learn how to use them, you're going to make your life so much easier as a first-time student, and student in general, as they never go away no matter how much you pray for them too. Choosing courses that meet credit requirements is the most important thing. Never add a class to your hectic schedule just because your best friend is taking it, because chances are that class doesn't count for your specified major and you just wasted time, money, and mental energy on credits you didn't even need to graduate. I suggest getting the sciences portion out of the way first, for most colleges -for some odd reason despite your major ( mine being a dual writing and journalism major)- make you take a trillion social and natural sciences. I also suggest taking a quantity of 15-19 credits each semester. Never overdo it ( I do ) but never underestimate how much time and effort it takes to graduate with all your credits! And yes, it is very frustrating and difficult to get into the classes you have your heart set on, so make sure you have at least 2 backups for each class.

4) What to pack: Here's a compiled list of the essentials you may need for your dorm and daily college life.

1) Clothes: make sure you don't overpack! You don't need 15 similar black, long-sleeved shirts. Pack at most half or less of your wardrobe at home, trust me you're going to find yourself rewashing and re-wearing the same pair of yoga pants because they feel safe and comfortable. Also, make sure you pack GOOD and DURABLE winter gear ( especially if you are planning to move upstate, coming from a student at Syracuse University).

2) Shower shoes: I promise. An inexpensive pair of flip-flops is all it takes to avoid an annoyance like an athlete's foot. Buy them. Put them on. Thank you and you're welcome.

3) Eye masks, ear plugs, and fans: Unlike your comfortable night's rest at home, college is a whole lot different. Neighbors are loud, roommates keep the lights on, and it gets seriously hot and sticky at night sometimes. Be prepared and get your beauty rest, you'll need it.

4) Bring a pair of shoes you don't care about: I think this may go without saying, but partying gets messy and so does the weather. Don't wear a pair of Custom Air Forces you care about more than your pinky finger to a frat party. Make one pair of sneakers your designated pair of frat shoes (Froes) so that you can continuously wear that one pair each time you head out for the night.

5) Laundry: Bring a portable (emphasis on portable) laundry bag and preferably some sort of detergent pods and dryer sheets. Also, if you don't know how to do your laundry yet at the ripe age of 18, I suggest learning now before you get to college. Also, set a specific day to be your "Laundry day" so nothing piles up!

6) A key ring: The second you get your dorm keys, put them on a ring and keep them with you at all times. From personal experience, getting locked out of your room at 3 am isn't the most enjoyable experience.

5) Get a calendar, use it, and be organized.

In college, you likely going to have a lot more work, events, and activities than you would like. On most days, your mind gonna be stretched in every- single direction: schoolwork, love interests, the time of the pregame, when your presentation is, and how long you have to drag on speaking to get full credit. I 100% recommend getting both a big paper calendar to paste on ur wall and creating an online calendar on Outlook. Read all of the syllabi and put important dates in your calendar the second you are assigned them or told by a friend from a friend about some sort of party on a specific date. Trust me you don't wanna miss either one of those. I also would suggest making your own deadlines for work, this way you don't have to stress about the forgotten project due Monday morning when out and drunk Saturday night. Get it all done before. Work first so you can play, stress-free later.

6) The Freshman 15

Stop worrying about how much weight you might gain in college and instead think about how much fun you're going to have. Not everyone gains weight freshman year, and if you do, who cares!? You're growing up; you're amid puberty's all-time high, it's life. Just make sure to prioritize how your body is feeling instead of how it is looking. Feel good, Look good. College isn't a runway show, and even if it was, not all models look identical for a reason. Fuel your body Fuel your mind.

7) Use the resources your poor parents are paying for.

Email your professors questions and get to know them, use your free gym membership, go to the resume workshops, eat at the dining hall, go to the student-run events, seek out your advisor (they are there for a reason), reach out to career services if you are unsure about your career path and or major, and go to some therapy sessions just because. Do it all because you can, and because time in college is MONEY so don't waste it!

6) Finally, Stay Positive:

The Learning environment is more challenging in college. You're on your own and no longer babied and nurtured by your parents. You're surrounded by new things. Your friends aren't the same. Your loved ones may be a 5-hour train ride or even a 17-hour flight away from you. Your emotional intelligence will grow as you learn to become more resilient. You will need this skill for the rest of your life. However, that does not imply that you lack the means to deal with it. You've already proven you have what it takes to succeed if you've managed to enroll in college. Be persistent, have faith, and take initiative. If you need assistance staying upbeat, turn to your friends, family, a therapist, or even a supportive online community. Most importantly, become your own best friend, you will always need someone like yourself in your life.

Do whatever it takes to maintain a good outlook and continue working on your degree. In the long run, it will be worthwhile.