Though this is not in any sense going to be a fashionable post, I do suggest you read up on all of the college expertise I have acquired within the past few months. Just kidding about the expertise part, but I do have some decent advice about surviving college and all that jazz :):
- First off, work out. Most, if not all schools have free gym benefits for full time students, and relatively cheap ones for part timers. If simply hitting the treadmill or weights won't work for you, there's always fun classes like Zumba, yoga, and body blast! The Freshmen 15 aren't just a myth and you are bound to get closer to them if you don't have incorporate some sort of physical activity into your lifestyle. Plus, you indirectly pay for that stuff, so might as well use it!
- Secondly, learn to say no. This doesn't necessarily pertain to drinking, drugs, or sex, but all peer pressure activities. Think about it! In high school we all enjoyed having our little car and being what we deemed as 'independent'. Well, true independence comes from learning how to be your own person and not doing things just because everyone's doing it. I'm not saying any of these things are bad things to try, but it should be your decision, and you should have legitimate reasons. Curiosity is a good enough reason as long as it is purely your curiosity and not other people's beliefs shoved down your throat.
- Thirdly, enjoy your own company. This is depressingly underrated in college, but it's okay to feel a bit overwhelmed with the social scene and just step back sometimes. This entire experience should be about figuring out who YOU are and what's a better way to do that than simply spending time in your own head? Reading a book, watching a movie, lounging around, working out, going for a walk in your beautiful campus are all such pleasant and relaxing activities! At some point in time everybody needs a break from the world! Plus, who cares that you chose to spend one Saturday night in your dorm instead of going out with friends? You have 4 entire years of this, and it's so much more exciting when going out doesn't become a routine!
- Fourthly, try not to study in the dorms. Now, the thing about the dorms is that it's really easy to get distracted. Someone stops by to say hi and you end up wasting all this precious time you could be using to get things done, and then you stress out, and then you go on Facebook and bitch about how much of a procrastinator you are, which leads to more procrastination and so on and so forth. College libraries are pretty nice places to spend your time in, and if you manage it wisely, there's plenty of time left for the social scene. Do your work in libraries, computer labs, and even if the outdoors if the weather permits, but use the dorms as a space for sleeping and socializing more than anything. The library is such a nice resource and it would be a pity to not take full advantage of it.
- Completely contrasting one of my main points, but be a 'yes' man. Here's the catch. You should learn how to say no for situations in which you truly have no interest in doing whatever people are trying to get you to do. Now, if your reasons for not wanting to go a certain place or try a certain thing is strictly the fear of the unknown, don't just write it off based on that fear! College is the perfect time to come out of your shell and try some new things! Honestly, you're only young once, and if you stay locked up your entire life you're bound to regret it later on. Live a little, but within reason :).
These are my main pieces of advice for the everyday college student. I hope they somehow provided you with a new outlook on life and you've discovered yourself while reading these lines or something enlightening like that. Remember, work hard, have fun, and stay relatively stylish! Step away from the frumpy sweatpants/frumpy sweatshirt duo! (Though that is a bit hypocritical of me to say, as I just came back from my lab wearing that exact combination- in my defense, the sweater was sequiny and the sweatpants were skinny).
I hope you enjoyed this post, and most importantly, I hope you're enjoying your time in college :)
Thank you for stopping by!
