My Advice to College Freshmen

I know there are a lot of websites and Twitter accounts out there dedicated to giving advice to college freshman.  Regardless, I want to share some advice for anyone who wants it from the perspective of an over-achieving recent college freshman.  I know how nerve-wracking it is to head off to a new life.  You don’t want to leave your family or the friends you have at home, but at the same time you are excited to live in a new place, hang out in a new social scene, and find yourself doing things you never thought you would.  So, without further ado, here are some of my strongest pieces of advice for thriving in your freshman year.

Get involved, but not too involved.  Just like high school, getting involved in activities that you enjoy will allow you to meet people who share common interests.  Join whatever student groups appeal to you, but commit to what is realistic.  My first semester, I joined two student groups as a member and performed in one show.  That still left plenty of time for studying and having a normal social life.  Second semester, though, I committed to too many different projects.  I ended up not giving my full attention to any of those endeavors or to my school work.  I also did not have a very enjoyable semester and, let’s face it, we all know that school work is the biggest priority, but college is supposed to be fun!  So, make time for it.

Do not be afraid to try new things.  Probably one of the most common pieces of advice, but it is absolutely true.  There are so many things going on across every college campus that it would be a shame not to experience exactly what you want.  You may think that you already know where your passions lie, but new ventures may open you up to passions you did not know you might have.  Join clubs, attend events, go out on the weekends.  Figure out what you enjoy and pursue it.

Changing your mind is not the end of the world.  It is really important to be open to new experiences, as I just stated.  You should especially try things that pertain to the career you want to pursue, such as joining a related student organization or doing an internship.  Testing these waters as early as possible will allow you to see firsthand if you could actually see yourself pursuing that career.  If you realize that something is not for you, it’s okay to change your mind and pursue something that does interest you.  You are in college to study what you choose, so don’t be afraid to change your mind until you know for certain what you want.

Stay true to yourself.  Let’s be real, high school is all about pleasing other people and trying to make friends that will help you survive those four years.  Most students change who they are to fit in with who they think they should be friends with.  College is your time to do whatever you want and not care about who judges you.  Most of the petty drama is gone, so you have more time to focus on pleasing yourself.  And hey, if you aren’t interested in doing something, don’t let other people pressure you into doing it.  Just as you have the opportunity to try new things, you have the chance to deny trying things in order to remain true to yourself.  You also have the right to only surround yourself with people who make you feel good and are accepting of who you really are.  Ditch the fake friends who aren’t one hundred percent supportive.

For answers to any specific questions about freshman year, feel free to email me at carolynbeatty3@gmail.com or tweet me at @carolyn_beatty.  I will answer your questions honestly.