Advice For College Freshman

10 Things to Help You Get Through

1. Don't be a College Clone

You don't have to fit in so much that it hurts. You were made to be completely original and you are unlike any other student on campus. So don't let any club or organizations or class conform you into a clone of what the world says you have to be.

2. Find Something You Love to Do

Dont settle for the meaningless repetitive stuff that happens around campus or in the dorms. Get out there and find out what you like to do, stand up for what you know to be right. Don't be a bandwagon, find out and be who you were meant to be!

3. Take Care of School

School, believe it or not, is a big part of why you're ate school. Yes there are definitely many things to be learned outside of the classrooms but that doesn't mean you should ignore whats going inside the classrooms. It's time for you to learn and grow, don't neglect that opportunity.

4. You Will Change

Don't be afraid to change in a place where nothing is the same as it was at home. That's part of the growth that happens in college. Change can be so weird but it can also be so good. Know that there is a reason for change and that how you change will be important in the habits that you develop for the rest of your life!

5. Study How to Study

You're going to have to learn how to study in college because thats what you do. You can choose to avoid it by going crazy every weekend and pretending like its not a skill that you need but it'll only come back to bite you at the end of the semester. Don't fall for it, learn how to study and then do it well.

6. Dont Overload Yourself

You have limits. Crazy, I know. But it's true that you can and will break down if you overload yourself with work, even if its good work. You need to pace yourself. Learn your limits, strengths, weaknesses and don't be afraid to say no if you have too much on your plate! This can save you from many sleepless nights, or maybe even a miserable semester.

7. Learn Time Management

Time management is needed in everything that you do. There is nothing you can do that is outside of time so don't pretend like you have all the time in the world. One thing gets pushed off, and then another gets rain checked, and before you know it you literally won't have enough hours in the day to get everything finished. So don't waste your time wasting time, Learn how to manage it.

8. You Are Not Alone

Know this as you're running around campus, you are not alone. You are trying to figure things out and so is everyone else. Some act like they've got it figured out and truth be tole, they may even be the ones that are the most lost. You don't have to know everything, but you have to be willing to accept the fact that you are not perfect and that you have some learning to do in the years to come. That exciting!

9. Get Plugged In

You are not made to do things on your own. This world is filled with more than one person for a reason, its because you were made to do life with other people! Don't be intimidated, there are plenty of people on your campus and you are sure to find a good group of friends who care about you more than seeing how quickly you can shotgun a beer. You know, friends who will ask you things like, "Are you doing alright?" or, "How can I help?"

10. Take On the Challenges

Challenges will come, no question. Take them on, don't avoid them because you're afraid to fail. You will fail, so what? That's how you learn and thats how you figure out some of the most important things about yourself and who you are. Remember, you are not meaningless, you were created with a purpose that is far better than what you've been told your entire life. Figure that out and go for it!