18 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before College

Hey, y'all! My name is Isabella, and I’m a college student learning how to navigate adulthood right alongside you!! Today, I will tell you about 18 things I wish someone told me before my first year of college. 

If you have any questions, please send me an email at thepearsonpost00@gmail.com. I want to be there for you! The transition to college life is difficult and exhausting. I want to answer your questions or discuss any concerns you may have! I asked some of my wisest college friends, "What are any pieces of advice or just honest truths that you wish someone would have told you before entering your freshman year of college?" Here is what we came up with! 

1. It will be hard, and there will be lots of change.
   • There will be disappointment, unmet expectations, and trials. However, there will also be fruitful friendships, learning experiences, and lifelong memories. I wish someone had told me that it would be hard, so I tell you this not to discourage you but to let you know that there will be trials and that it is perfectly normal. 
2. You are not alone. 
   • So many people are struggling behind the scenes. Please don't base your perception on social media; it usually isn't what it seems. It is easy to feel like you don't know your identity when your sport, popularity, or reputation are all stripped away. There will be so much change in college, but the loss and confusion are the first steps in genuinely finding your identity.
3. There is no rigid schedule in college, so learn to prioritize.
   • There is significantly less structure in your daily schedule than in high school. During your first year of college, especially, you will be learning and trying to find a routine that works for you. Be purposeful with your time and learn to prioritize. Make sure you allot some downtime. 
   • It is also just helpful to keep everything in order, given how busy you'll get. Keeping my planner up to date always eases my stress. I use an hourly planner that I customized on Etsy. It allows me to schedule my week ahead of time, hour-by-hour. (This is the planner I use. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1518834266)

4. Take school seriously.
   • GO TO CLASS! As a college student, you are fully accountable for yourself, your grades, how much sleep you get, how you use your time, etc. So spend it wisely. In the first semester, you will determine what works for you. Make sure school is one of the things you prioritize. Learning and getting good grades is why you're there!
   • DO BONUS ASSIGNMENTS! Seriously. I mean this one. Take advantage of any bonus opportunities that are available to you. It provides a safety net for you and can be the difference in a letter grade at the end of the semester.
   • Pay close attention to the details in teachers' syllabi and due dates. If you don't use a calendar or planner to keep track of important dates and assignments, I recommend starting.
5. Be intentional.
   • Be intentional about everything! Your time, your friendships, your eating habits, and your sleeping habits. Since you are in charge of your schedule, use your time wisely. Getting involved, making new friends, trying new things, meeting new people, and creating memories are all important and so much fun, but you have to know when to say no and give yourself a chance to rest. Be purposeful with your actions.
6. It's about balance.
   • Figure out what works for you. Try to say yes to as many invitations as possible and invite people too! The first semester is the perfect time to meet people because everyone is in similar scenarios. The first semester is tiring; no matter what you do, it is hectic. Make sure you prioritize meeting as many new people as possible, but not stretching yourself too thin. It is a difficult balance, but you must find what works for you!!
7. Give yourself time to rest.
   • Balance only works if you give yourself rest. Trying to do everything is draining, and living with a roommate can make it hard to rest sometimes. There is no alone time in college. Make some for yourself. Find out what works for you, and don't stretch yourself too thin. Some good ways to do this are walking alone, taking a long shower, having a solo coffee shop study session, or working out.
8. Be patient; new friendships take time.
   • Give yourself grace, especially when making new relationships. Good friendships take time. You most likely won't find your best friends immediately at the beginning of college. That's okay! Continue to be intentional about developing new friendships. 
9. Don't try to be perfect or expect to be.
   • It is so easy to compare yourself to others, especially at college, where there are thousands more people than in high school and people of all different backgrounds. Remember that you are a unique person. College is your time to figure out who you are called to be. Decide WHO you want to be just as much as you are figuring out WHAT you want to be when you're out of college. You are not perfect, and you will make mistakes as you figure out how to navigate college life, and that is okay!
10. Prioritize finding a church/synagogue and an accountability person to go with.
    • With all the business of meeting people and prioritizing making new friendships, brushing off things that feel less urgent can become easy. Find a church that is restful and replenishing. Commit to finding a church; you will make a community through that! It is okay to church hop for a while!!! You don't have to commit to a church immediately; just ensure you are actively looking. An excellent way to church hop is to ask older girls to go to church with them to try different ones!
11. Take advantage of your opportunities.
    • Get involved! Get involved in organizations and projects on campus that you TRULY believe in and are passionate about. Involvement is also an exceptional way to meet people, especially from all different backgrounds. But don't overcommit to extracurriculars. An excellent way to go about this is to join only one thing for your enjoyment and join one thing as a resume builder, and that is all you need in your freshman year.
12. Interview for everything. 
    • You can never have enough interview experience. I started stepping out of my comfort zone and interviewing for things later during freshman year, and I wish I had started earlier.
13. Call your parents & hometown friends.
    • They miss you!! Call them, text them, and keep them updated. You probably won't talk consistently, but the little things can be so joyous!
14. Change your major if you want to.
    • There is no reason to be stuck in a career you dislike for the rest of your life because you picked the wrong major when you were 18. No one is going to judge you for switching your major. There are way more people changing their major than you probably think.
15. Communicate with your roommate.
    • Living with someone else can be challenging, especially in the close quarters of a dorm. There is no need to make it more stressful for you and your roommate by not communicating. Simply let your roommate know if something is annoying or offending you that is fixable. Just be sure to do so politely. 
16. Take care of your health.
    • Being in charge of all your meals can get stressful. Make sure you research if your college has a dining plan. It is very helpful freshman year because of your lack of time. Additionally, learning how to make meals in a dorm can be very difficult when all you have is a microwave. It will take some experimenting to figure out what dorm meals make you feel good. I'll make a blog post about how to eat healthy in a dorm to help y'all!
    • You will probably get sick more frequently during freshman year due to how tiring it can be, so make sure you're prepared with any documents and payment BEFORE making a trip to urgent care.
    • Not just your physical health but your mental health, too. College can be very taxing. Your mental health is just as important; don't compromise your mental health for anything. Most colleges offer mental health services if you ever need them. Don’t be ashamed of asking for help.
17. Learn budgeting. 
    • Make sure you are spending your money wisely. Of all the time I spent meeting people freshman year, the majority of it was spent getting food. Be conscious of how much you're spending. Begin to form your healthy spending and saving habits now because they will help you for the rest of your life.
18. God's got this!!
    • Last but not least, trust HIS plan! Plenty of people actually told me this and told me to trust the process and His plan. However, I didn't listen to them. I like to be organized, and therefore, I like to have my life in order and going the way I want it to go. I was not prepared for so much change. But the Lord had more incredible plans for me and ultimately showed me that He is in charge of my life! How reassuring is that? We don't have to worry because He has already picked our paths. Just remain steadfast in Him and cast all your cares on Him; it is easier said than done, but take it one day at a time.

With love,

Isabella XO