CELIA ANISKOVICH ASKED SEVERAL of her fellow seniors at Fordham University (NY) what advice they had for freshmen and published the results on ThoughtCatalog.com. We chose a few of our favorites from her list to share with you.
“Remember that you’re not in high school anymore and that nobody cares what you were like in high school. It’s OK to take good memories from high school with you to college, but make sure not to get caught up in them. You’re going to want to make all new friends and have all new experiences in college and if you stay too attached to your high school experience, you won’t be open to everything that [college] has to offer. Don’t focus on what made you, you in high school. Figure out what your mark in college is going to be—and figure out with whom you’re going to make it.”
“Freshman year is a huge transition period, and I wish I had understood that and handled it with more grace. Feel your feelings and know that it will be easier one day, once you’ve found the right people.”
“Going to the cafeteria alone is not weird; it means you’re OK with yourself.”
“Everyone is probably telling you right now that these will be the happiest four years of your life. What they probably aren’t telling you is that these will also be some of the worst years of your life. In college you will feel on top of the world and utterly defeated (sometimes in the same day). So just try to remember that you’re not doing anything wrong if you’re having a hard time. And before you jump to any conclusions about how much happier everyone else is, and how much more fun they’re having than you, go sit down and talk to a friend. You’d be surprised by how many people feel lost and directionless at least at some point in their college careers.”
“Take yourself out of your comfort zone. Make yourself deliberately uncomfortable. It is an unparalleled character-building exercise, and you might be able to discern the things you want out of life as well as the things you don’t as a result.”
“Don’t feel like you need to be best friends with the people in your hall because of your proximity. Be selective about those who get to spend time with you.”
“Participate in EVERYTHING, even if it’s not your thing, you’ll probably find that if you participate, you’ll always have fun. Do not be that kid who is ‘too cool for school’ because you will miss out.”
To get more advice, read the original piece here: thoughtcatalog.com/celia/2013/12/22-college-seniors-on-their-advice-to-college-freshmen.
