College Tips From a College Graduate

By: Sophia Johnette

College is one of the most growing experiences of your life…this is good and hard. I don’t know if I’d be the woman I’m becoming today without college, but I won’t say that college didn’t take a toll on me, especially in terms of mental health and wellbeing.

Tip One: Welcome Change

At eighteen years old, I thought I knew who I was. I thought I knew all my political, religious, and life beliefs, and that these things would not change. Surprise, surprise: they did change.

You’re going to change in college—you’re supposed to. You’re going to have a dozen little versions of who you think you’re supposed to be, and then you’ll find versions of yourself that you’re meant to be at certain points in your life. College is a holding cell for a lot of this change in your early adult life. Don’t fight change, go with it…grow with it.

Tip Two: People Suck…and Some Don’t

You’ll find a fun mix of people in college, and you might develop some cynical views for awhile, such as:

All men suck

Everyone here is horrible and they all suck

Everyone here makes me wish I could shove a red hot poker up my nose and pull out my brain

And these are things that I’ve said in my college career. And I’ll tell you what: yeah, people suck, but not everyone sucks. If you go through life and college thinking everyone sucks, you’re going to miss out on a lot of great people and experiences. Be a realist, be an optimist, but not be a chronic pessimist.

Tip Three: Quit Caring What People Think

College is the most mind numbing experience in terms of worrying about what people will think of you. It’s honestly very similar to high school in this respect. You’ll constantly be worrying about how others perceive you.

This is a great place to experiment with your I don’t care what you think mindset. Learn to enjoy what you like and do what you want without worrying about what everyone else thinks. You have to find the power of being you!

Tip Four: Stand Up

The most important thing that college taught me was to stand up for myself and quit being the nice, agreeable girl all the time. College is the best time to experiment with new attitudes, outlooks, and versions of yourself. Enjoy the continuous journey of shedding your old self and finding your new skin!

Tip Five: Packing Essentials

Most college freshman dorms are the definition of “roughing it.” You have no a/c or any privacy, and the showers are somehow always spotted with mold. I can’t help you on the mold part (just complain to your RA), but here’s the 4 things I had freshman year that made my life easier, plus things I wish I would’ve had.

1. Fan (for life without a/c)

2. Heated blanket (for the winters without warmth)

3. Shower caddy

4. Privacy divider (for when you’re so sick of seeing your roommate that you need a sight-break) (I wish I would’ve had this)

College is the best of times and the worst of times…don’t forget to enjoy it. It goes by faster than it feels (until second semester senior year, then it all feels very fast).