I've had to keep an eye on the date, if only to keep track of my schedule for work, but apparently that doesn't mean that I really paid attention to where that put me on the calendar. Being told the fair back home, always the last week and a half of July, is next weekend forced that bit into focus. And unfortunately it also put into perspective just how close the first day of classes is. Longer story shorter, I basically have three and a half weeks left in the last actual summer of my life. Three and a half weeks until I start the last year of college, two semesters until graduation. I might be the strangest person ever because that does nothing but terrify me. Turning twenty-one kind of cut the last strings from childhood I was clinging to, but graduating college is going to sever those last remaining fibers.
I already pay rent and have a job and all of that, but I feel like graduation means that's what my life will consist of from now on. Expect the job will (hopefully) be full time and calling in will be a much bigger deal. Life is going to change dramatically even if I don't really notice it at first. Anyway, I feel like I need to make the most of random days off, weird hours, and the time I know I have left with my friends around. I propose that I find something new to do every week. It is going to range from trying new restaurants in town (I'm horrible about trying new food) to actually going in the Rec Center instead of walking past it, to anything else that I can find. I want to enjoy this last school year and be able to look back with minimal regrets. I can only encourage everyone else going into their senior year to do the same. You only get it once, sure you can have to go back if you didn't have enough credits or whathaveyou but the circumstances that make up this year will never realign again, make the most of it.
Further advice to anyone going into their freshman year:
You don't have to be friends with your roommate, you only have to get along. Trust me. I tried too hard to be friends with mine and it bit me in the butt.
Use the Rec Center! I'm assuming its free with a student ID at every school, and this is going to be the only time in your life that you will have (not really when you look at tuition and fees) free access to a gym/pool.
Join clubs, seriously. There are usually dozens upon dozens of them to choose from with all kinds of focuses. And if you can't find one you like, there is almost always the option to create one. I didn't and I'm regretting it while trying to fill in a resume. Even if it is only for the resume and not for the potential friends and the like, do it. High school quits counting sooner than you'd like.
Bring power cords/surge protectors. The first dorm I lived in had two outlets on opposite sides of the room. Don't go in expecting any more then that and prepare accordingly.
Keep in touch with friends from high school. I let myself believe I was too busy and let a lot of long time friendships die because of it. As long as they are still healthy to have in your life, keep them there. College is a lot easier with a good support system, because I can almost guarantee there will be moments you doubt why you are there and it all the money is worth it. Last semester was a long one of those moments for me and I was diagnosed with depression towards the end when my friends said I needed to get help. Hopefully for you this moment is only in the wee hours when you have pushed a paper till the last moment, which everyone does at least once.
You don't need a laptop (it certainly makes life a hell of a lot easier) but you DO need a good thumb-drive or two. Always have three places papers and projects are saved, including emailing it to yourself, maybe even someone else just in case. ---On a side note, if the school provides an email address, just use it. Don't be one of the 'too cool' kids that has to use the email they came to school with. Its annoying for the professor to be unable to get into contact with you and a lot of them won't respond to email addresses that aren't familiar.
TR means a Tuesday/Thursday class, not just Thursday. Silly freshman me believed the upper classman that told me otherwise. Don't be silly me, you look like an idiot when you tell the professor why you missed the first day of class.
Get a planner of some sort. If your school supplies one, use it! It works as a great reminder for just how long you have until something is due, and a reminder that you actually have something due. The only people I saw that didn't turn in papers, didn't use a planner.
I'll stop here, I'm sure the internet is full of all sort of helpful bits about how to succeed in college and my piece is just another voice in the mess, but I'm hoping my mistakes can help someone out there. My summer break from writing is now over as well and I hope to return to this blog with a new post every Wednesday, hopefully the first being this coming July 16th.
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