So my younger cousin just turned 18 and is going off to college, at my alma mater no less! So it got me thinking about being 18 and going off to college for the first semester. It’s funny how teenagers are in such a rush to become adults and then as soon as you are an adult you’re like oh crap I wish I could be a teenager again!

Going off to college is pretty daunting for any young person. For most, it is their first experience living on their own away from their families, and in most cases their close friends as well. Many college freshman have never done a load of laundry or cooked themselves dinner. I distinctly remember that feeling of being left at the dorm with my new roomates, complete strangers, who I was to live with for the entire year. So many possibilities, so much freedom! It takes a lot of responsibility to keep yourself in check that first year of school, so here are my tips for getting through that first year and having a little fun:

• Hide your food! As every college student knows food is a hot commodity. If your mom sends you a care package open it in private and hide those baked goods before your friends swoop in and demolish it before you get one bite.
• Lock your doors! You are friends with everyone on your floor, no need to lock the doors right? Wrong! You never know who might be coming in and out of your dorm. Add in to the mix a lot of young drunk people and who knows what can happen. Better to be safe than sorry.
• Go to class…no really. It is tempting to skip. It is snowing outside, it’s 7:00 am, the teacher won’t really drop you a whole letter grade if you skip, right? Yes they will. Go to class.
• Stay with your friends. Underage drinking happens, it’s a fact. So if you are at a party or a bar and you and your friends are drinking, stay together. If your friend just met a guy/girl and tells you they will find a way home later you can leave, don’t listen. Be a good friend and look out for each other.
• Ask the Teaching Assistants for help. This is why they are there, they are students too ya know. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them.
• Get involved in your school’s community. Not into sports or student counsel? Try out for a play, or join a club, heck even create a new club. Being so far away from home can be lonely at times so get involved. It will make your new environment seem more like home.
• Don’t blow your savings account the first semester. You have been working summer jobs for 4 years in anticipation of being on your own. You have what seems like a huge amount of money in your account. Don’t get too spending happy. That money has to last you the entire semester, or maybe the entire year.
• Take advantage of the school cafeteria. School food is notorious for being gross. But you already paid for it before you got there, so basically it’s free. Eat it. Milk that meal card for all it is worth.

The best tip I can think of…. Enjoy this first year of college, take in every single moment. The next 3 years will be vastly different than this one so enjoy those first encounters, the nervousness of your first big class, and meeting your roommates for the first time. This year will be filled with excitement, uncertainty, and possibly some homesickness. If you are lucky you will make it to the end of the year with all passing grades, a bunch of new friends, probably getting your heart broken once or twice along the way and learning more about yourself in one year than you ever thought possible. This is your time, it’s your adventure. Good luck.

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