College is supposed to be awesome.
Everyones constantly reminding you that itll be the best time of your life.
And it can be!
I felt awkward, out of place, and alone.
It was pretty much the opposite of what I thought college was supposed to be.
This, of course, is even harder if youre shy or introverted.
So that means talking to new people, which some of us absolutely dread.
Thankfully, college is a great place to find all three of these things.
Volunteering or finding a part-time campus job is another option.
We started writing together, and stayed great friends to this day.
It helps to choose your activities wisely, but keep an open mind, too.
Try a little bit of everything, and see what sticks.
Resist the temptation to go straight home after class or your other activities.
Try not to hole up in your room all afternoon without exploring campus.
After a while, making friends becomes a bit more natural.
Its not easy at first, but it gets evenharder once you graduate.
So take advantage of the fun groups and activities while you’ve got the option to.
That could happen, and it certainly happens to a lot of people.
But in reality, many of us spend quite a bit of time coping with heartache instead.
Breakups are the Worst
College is a rough time for romance.
Think about it: youve just started becoming an adult, and experiencing what that means.
Youre constantly growing, intellectually, emotionally, and socially.
Some of those changes will surprise the hell out of you.
Its kind of beautiful, really.
But unfortunately, all that change makes relationships a lot tougher.
For the same reasons mentioned above, new college relationships can be hard, too.
Serious relationships require maintenance, commitment, and communication, which is a tall order.
And college is about self-discovery (and studying!)
and that often conflicts with being able to devote all of your time or yourself to a relationship.
Those relationships dont have to end in marriage.
That said, a breakup, especially your first one, is absolutely freaking horrible.
Its confusing, heartbreaking, and youll be surprised at the depths to which you might feel sadness.
Its tough, but you have tolearn to stay focusedwhile youre going through one.
I hate to say it, but you may have quite a few breakups in college.
That certainly happens in college, but the reality doesnt look as much like a movie as youd think.
Its a sad fact, but women, especially, should be aware of the Red Zone.
Most college students who are sexually assaulted are victimized by someone they know.
In fact, many of them wouldnt even consider themselves rapists.
Your teacher meticulously plans the syllabus to ensure everyone keeps up.
Maybe he or she even gives you a weekly quiz to motivate you to read the assigned chapters.
Youve probably already heard that college is a different story.
No one cares if you studyits up toyouto keep up and pay attention.
To combat this, you need a study plan.
See what free time you have in your schedule for studying.
Build your schedule:Now fill in those free time gaps.
Pencil in certain times in your schedule to study for certain classes or subjects.
Make some study goals: Make weekly study goals.
That might mean brushing up on a couple of chapters for an upcoming test.
If you turn it into a habit, itll be easier to stick to.
Theyre hoping youll screw up your budget and need to take out a payday loan.
If not, here are a few basics you should know.
Avoid bad debt:Theres good debt and theres bad debt.
A car loan is bad debt, because youre borrowing money to buy something that depreciates.
Dont take out more loan than you need:Chances are, you took out a student loan.
But dont take out more money than you actually need.
it’s possible for you to spend that on whatever you want.
So she did, and now shes still paying it off.
Again: no one cares about your finances.
Only spend what you havedont write a check you cant cash, so to speak.
Youll Get Homesick
Most high school students look forward to college because theyre finally free.
You get to get away from your family!
At some point, though, homesickness will probably set in, and youll actually start to miss them.
It might not hit you at first, but eventually, something will likely trigger your homesickness.
You might not even realize you feel homesick at first.
You might feel resentful, or vulnerable, or think youre just feeling blue for no reason.
That it could very well be homesickness setting in: feeling a lack of familiarity and security.
A routine will help you feel a sense of familiarity again.
Resist the urge to call home: At least not every five minutes.
so that overcome homesickness, you have to let it sink in so it can pass.
Keep an open mind!
Simply learning to identify and admit your homesickness can make a big difference, too.
Its a lot easier to manage feeling blue when you knowwhyyoure feeling blue.
I had a completely different major when I started, then switched my second or third year.
This is something you want to be prepared for ahead of time, when youre planning your courses.
Also, knowing that your plans will change can help you financially, too.
In fact, a lot of things can change in college.
Our expectations of college can lead to a surprising, and sometimes disappointing, first-year experience.
Image by Tina Mailhot-Roberge.
