Laine Brendel
Mrs. Toonen
MWF 9:30
-
Nov 2023
Advice to the Newcomers
As an incoming freshman to college, you are probably full of expectations. You are probably thinking to yourself, man I can’t wait to get on campus to meet new people, learn about things I want to, having a roommate, and having fun on the weekends. As a sophomore in college, that’s the mentality I recommend you don’t have.
People often forget the purpose of college, and it’s solely to prepare you for your future. I made this mistake when I was an incoming freshman. I put myself in a ton of self-sabotaging positions that ultimately created a ton of stress on myself. I was worried about everyone and everything else that hindered me my first month of college. Another piece of advice I can give is to break out of your summer habits. This may sound pretty vague, but breaking summer habits will do a lot for you in a good way in terms of how well you do in college, and the stress levels you attain. Wake up earlier, start cleaning your room, just do something to start breaking those bad summer habits that you know will prepare for the upcoming college school year. You’re getting a roommate right? Make sure you two can maintain a common ground. If something is bothering you, please speak up. It will make your time in the room much more better, and when there is tension, it can and it will affect you as a person.
Aside form the ways you can manage stress, how can you enjoy college? You can enjoy college by doing things that involve you being yourself. Try to take classes that you know are for you, hang out with like minded people, and find a hobby. College is super diverse and offers so many things for you to be your true authentic self. What is the takeaway from this? Put yourself in positions where you are not forcing yourself to be anyone else, because naturally you will find people just like you, and it’s always a good feeling when you can have a group of likeminded people to be around because of how well it can be for you academically, mentally, and emotionally if you obtain the correct mindset. So join an intramural sport, book club, organization, list goes on. Whatever you fit in best with, put yourself there. And if you are unsure, try new things. Trying new things will make you learn so much about yourself, in a good way.