As the school year draws to a close, I have a couple
reminders for those graduating high school this year and transitioning into the
world of universities and campus life.
Reminder #1:
The friends you have now may not be your friends four months
from now. Trust me – you’ll keep in touch throughout the course of the summer
and maybe throughout the first couple weeks of classes. After that, you all
find new groups to join and those friends from high school soon fade. You will
have the select few who you manage to keep in touch with, but you can probably
count those people on one hand. Just remember: This should not seem upsetting.
It might seem sad at first, but it is part of the process. When you leave your
hometown, some other pieces from your high school life get left behind as well.
Reminder #2:
Prices of textbooks are ridiculous. Out of everything you
spend money on in college – dorm room necessities, makeup, folders, and pens –
the prices of textbooks might make your head explode. With that said, look for
your textbooks online. Amazon has textbooks for close to half the prices of
textbooks sold throughout universities and Chegg.com is also well known for its
cheap prices. Keep your eyes open for money savers in the textbook department
and stock up on cheap school supplies. Don’t rely on your laptop for your notes
and lectures. Power can fade and some professors do not allow laptops in their
classrooms so always keep a notepad and pen at hand.
Reminder #3:
You pay for every hour you spend in class. In high school,
it did not seem as though it was a big deal if you missed class or slept
through your alarm; however, you pay thousands of dollars per semester to
attend classes. Is it worth getting an extra hour of sleep if you basically
lose $100 by skipping that 9 a.m. history class? Probably not.
Reminder #4:
FILL OUT THOSE SCHOLARSHIPS. I know the due dates for
scholarships keep getting closer so fill out every application you can. Even if
you do not know if you are eligible for the scholarship – fill it out. You
never know. If nobody else applies for it, then you may receive the money.
Reminder #5:
Relationships are not the most important aspects of your
lives. If you are reading this and you are still in a relationship with someone
who you dated in high school, then I applaud you. Only the strong survive and,
trust me, many of us are weak.
Reminder #6:
When you begin packing for college, keep in mind the
location of your university. Is it thirty minutes from your hometown? If so,
then don’t pack every piece of clothing you have. Pack the essentials for the
current season. You typically move in around the middle of August so light
layers and summer clothing are your necessities at the moment.
Reminder #7:
What should you wear to class? COMFORTABLE CLOTHING. When
you wake up for your morning classes after a night full of studying (A.K.A. a
night filled with your roommates and Netflix), you do not want to get
glammed-up. You learn to buy versatile articles of clothing and jewelry. In
high school, it took me about an hour to get ready and eat breakfast before
school. Now? I wake up with fifteen minutes to spare before I have to leave for
class. Easy hairstyles and quick outfits become your specialties in the
wardrobe department.
Reminder #8:
GET INVOLVED! I cannot stress this enough. I made the
mistake of only taking an average number of hours of classes this semester so
between this factor and my almost non-existent list of extra-curriculars, I
find a lot of down time with friends during my study breaks. Time with friends
is good so do not get me wrong, but you need to get involved. At the beginning
of the year, I was involved in a few clubs and, because of my involvement, I
realized I wanted to change my major.
Reminder #9:
Speaking of time with friends, SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS.
Trust me. Your friends on campus become your family and it is nearly impossible
to spend every waking moment studying for your classes. Most of you will
probably start out with a lot of required core classes so between your sleep
deprivation and your hatred for your classes, you will need time with friends.
Take breaks, go get dinner, go to movies.
Reminder #10:
Have fun. In the long run, will you fondly reminisce on your nights spent in the top floor of the library? Eh, probably not. You will remember the times you had with friends and the memories you made with them. In a short amount of time, you meet people who become closer to you than most people you grew up knowing. These people will see you on your days when you feel as though you may break down, and they will see you after you kill your biggest exam of the year. Either way, they will always be there for you. Some of them may even be lifelong friends.
Have fun. In the long run, will you fondly reminisce on your nights spent in the top floor of the library? Eh, probably not. You will remember the times you had with friends and the memories you made with them. In a short amount of time, you meet people who become closer to you than most people you grew up knowing. These people will see you on your days when you feel as though you may break down, and they will see you after you kill your biggest exam of the year. Either way, they will always be there for you. Some of them may even be lifelong friends.
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