Haley Saffren

People often say college is the best time of their life.  While true for some people, (no other period in life offers as much freedom without full responsibility), there are still plenty of rough times during your college years.  Below are my five tips to help you power through some of the more difficult aspects of your first year of college.

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1) Don't stress about having to make friends right away. 

For some, college helps them find their niche immediately.  For me, it didn’t happen until months into my college experience.  Meeting people you connect with in the first few months can be difficult for most.  There’s the adjustment to being away from home, living on your own, and being independent for (possibly) the first time in your life.  Then, you’re starting over and looking for a whole new group of friends.  If you're shy like me, it can be difficult to build relationships.  Putting myself out there is not easy or something I was used to doing.  It took me time to meet, converse, relate and become close with people outside of my suite of roommates, who were also new to me.  Some people struggle for a long stretch of time, and if that's your experience, you should know it’s okay.  

When starting college as a freshman, don’t worry too much about making your new best friends.  It often happens when you’re not worrying or looking for those friendships.  For some, it takes a while to meet those who will have a lasting impact throughout your college years and beyond, and there’s nothing wrong with that.  In fact, those people are usually worth the wait.  College can be the time to find yourself.  Don’t worry about the number of friends you will make; pay attention to what you might discover about yourself.  For all you know, that is what will draw new people to you and help you feel more comfortable with your college experience.

2) Don't be afraid to switch majors. 

Knowing what you want to do with your life prior to going to college can be great, but what if you later realize it’s not the path for you?  The simple answer is to switch majors.  While the switch usually involves a process with many elements of consideration including courseload, requirements fulfilled, graduation, tuition, and more, it’s not impossible, and it’s definitely worth pursuing your strengths and passions.  

College is about figuring out what you want to do with your life.  While a change can seem scary and daunting, this is the opportunity to explore the possibilities with purpose.  If you experience doubt in your coursework or discover a new passion, don’t ignore it; do something about it.  It’s never too late to change your mind, and actually, it’s easier to make the change than to start over after college.  An added bonus is that you will add a depth of learning and knowledge to your resume!

3)  Weekends aren't always exciting. 

Not every weekend of your life is going to be exciting.  Yet, this expectation is often placed on your college experience.  Shouldn’t every weekend have something crazy and exciting going on?  No, and you’ll be glad for a break on some of those weekends.  Don’t set an unrealistic expectation that all of your freetime will be memorable.  You’ll find a need to use your time wisely even on the weekends.  A down weekend or two can be necessary and useful to refuel after a stressful week, to concentrate on a project, or to enjoy some personal downtime.  That doesn’t mean all weekends will be boring.  Most are fun-filled!  College weekends can be both fun and uneventful.  Enjoy the value in all the variety of moments!

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While a change can seem scary and daunting, this is the opportunity to explore the possibilities with purpose.

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4) Take the workload seriously. 

College is a time to let loose, but it’s also a time for serious work.  The college workload is a lot heavier than the high school workload, and, because of the sudden independence, adapting to this workload is an adjustment for most college freshmen.  Initially, the amount of work might not seem daunting because there are fewer class subjects in one day and less time spent in class than the high school years, but don’t let the daily differences fool you into mismanaging your time and effort.  Everyone manages their workload in their own way, but I’d advise not to be too laidback just because you seem to have more time.  One of the hardest choices comes when there’s something better to do dangling in front of you, but don’t forget to make time in your day to devote to your work.  It may not be what you want to do most, but it’ll be worth it in the end. 

5) Have fun. 

College is the time to discover yourself.  Take risks that you’d normally never take.  Explore with a purpose.  Try as many new things as you can (I’m not referring to drugs, alcohol, or anything life-threatening, of course)!  You will open up a whole new world of knowledge and opportunities you didn’t know existed.  Talk to new people.  If they end up being complete jerks, at least you know they’re not the friends for you.  Overall, enjoy your college experience as much as possible.  It’s up to you to make it the best time of your life!

Those are the best tips I have for new college students, all of which have helped improve my college experience tremendously!  Remember, it’s always nice to have a little knowledge or guidance when starting something new.  Seize every opportunity in college.  It can truly be a blast.

 

Haley Saffren is a rising junior at Emerson College.  She is a writing, literature, and publishing major.  Haley hopes to one day be a successful publisher and writer.

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