“5 Tips for Surviving Your Freshman Year” by Jennifer Most

“Time flies by.” I always heard the popular saying, but it never seemed true. Sometimes, I feel like time is dreadful; I sit down to write a paper and my brain doesn’t work. I watch the seconds inch by. Other times, in the blink of an eye, it’s already Thursday. How did the week go by so quickly? Thinking more broadly: how am I in college? You mean, I graduated high school? I’m about to enter my 20s? Excuse me, WHAT?

Time is a very interesting concept. Why does it go by slowly, and then quickly? I wish I knew the answer to these questions. Unfortunately, we have to learn how to make the most out of our time. In two weeks, my freshman year at UD will be over and I will move on to my sophomore year. I’m not sure how, but I survived! Time does simply fly by. We have to enjoy all the time we have, especially as a college student. Here are Jen’s 5 ways to survive and thrive your first year in college:

1. It’s okay to be homesick. The first couple of weeks are hard. It’s weird adjusting to a whole new atmosphere with no parents, few rules, and few to no familiar faces. It feels like you have to start your social circle from scratch, build your new reputation, and get right on top of your academics. It seems like everyone but you has already found their best friends (I’ve learned that this, especially, is not the case). Don’t worry, with time all of this will come. All of the freshmen are truly starting in the same position and everyone can relate to each others problems and concerns.
2. Talk to people. Although this might seem obvious, it is a hard thing to do. Shy and/or introverted people, as myself, might feel uncomfortable at first. This leads me to my next tip.
3. Get out of your comfort zone – seriously! I know this phrase is overused, but these are words of wisdom! I’m not very comfortable with my writing skills, but now I write for the blog and I love doing it. Writing down my ideas allows me to destress and sometimes my writing can even help others. I participated in panhellenic recruitment and am now in a sorority. This is something I thought I would never do, but now I couldn’t imagine my freshman year without it.
4. Get organized! My agenda is my everything. I couldn’t imagine life without it. Some people are quite obsessed with being organized: everything needs to be color-coated with perfect handwriting with no scribbles or mistakes. Although I’m not that extreme, I need an agenda to organize my week, month and semester. At the beginning of each semester, I mark down all due dates, concerts, and events so I won’t forget anything! I write down times for meetings and rehearsals, and immediate work I need to get done. My agenda has saved me.
5. Meet your professors. Since UD is a big school which can mean big class sizes, it can be hard to get to know your professor. Professors hold office hours so that they can get to know their students and help them with any issues they have. Professors are very experienced in their field and can offer advice which may help you in the future.