50 Things I learned my Freshman Year of College

Hello everyone!

Needless to say, it has been a very long and challenging school year. I had no idea what to expect out of college (regardless of what I saw on television, which, by the way, is very misleading. Don't fall victim to the dramatized programming, for you will be very disappointed. I learned that when I got to middle school and realized it was nothing like Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide. But, I digress). I will publicly admit that I miss high school. End of story. It was a difficult year knowing that the familiar faces I saw regularly at school and at youth group were not going to be around all the time, save winter, spring, and summer breaks. But seeing said friends during said breaks has only strengthened our friendships even more, leading to more adventurous "chill timez," as they are referred to by me and my boys Charlie and Carson. Before I proceed, below are some photos from my recent adventures with said friends.

Charlie photographing art on Dekalb Avenue

Photo by Charlie

Feminist street art on Forsyth Street by
Tatyana Fazlalizadeh

Intersection of Forsyth and Mitchell Street

Forsyth Street

Dekalb Avenue - Photo by Charlie

Ladybug :-)

More photographs can be found on my Instagram. Moving on...

After a grueling first year at college, I have learned the following:

1. Commuting sucks.
2. ...and by commuting, I mean MARTA. Though I'm sure driving to campus is almost as miserable.
3. Prerequisite courses are annoying when you're as anxious as me to begin Major classes.
4. I should have taken more AP classes so I wouldn't have take so many prerequisite classes. (Just kidding, I would have died if I took more AP classes. After AP Language and Composition, all I could think was "hell naw, I'm not doing that again!")
5. Don't take the maximum credit hours (18). I didn't, but some of my friends did. It hurt to see them suffer. Just don't.
6. Being a film major is awesome because we really don't need all that extra math. Have fun, engineering majors. :-)
7. Just because you aren't sitting in class for 7 hours a day, doesn't mean you have all the free time in the world. Curse you, procrastination...
8. Yoga pants are extraordinarily comfortable, even if they are not the most flattering. 
9. Yoga pants are convenient for fools like me who take 8:00 a.m. classes...
10. ...don't take 8:00 a.m. classes. You might have been able to do that in high school, but it's different in college. Just don't.
11. Dorm life is awesome, because freedom.
12. Naps are the most heavenly things besides microwavable pizza.
13. You don't have to have a Ramen diet. Really. 
14. Caffeine is helpful during finals week... but you don't need it if you don't procrastinate! We are all guilty of procrastinating. Time management is muy importante.
15. Don't rush or "b.s." writing assignments. Seriously. You might have been able to get away with that in high school, but in college, this could make or break you in class. (This is more advice than experience... I personally rocked all my writing assignments.)
16. Laundry on campus is terrible. Have fun doing a 2-hour task over the course of 5 hours.
17. RateMyProfessors.com is such a useful resource when registering for classes.
18. Don't wait until the last minute to register for classes. If possible, register as soon as you are allowed.
19. College is expensive. 
20. Study hard. (DUHHHHHHH)
21. Go to class. Many teachers count attendance toward your final grade. Besides, you're paying for college-- get your money's worth!!! 
22. The Freshman 15 is real. (I personally didn't gain 15 pounds, but I did gain like, 5.)
23. Don't lose any scholarships you have. If this means not going to that party or not spending an evening watching your favorite show (*cough* Desperate Housewives *cough*) on Netflix, then do it. Studying is the ultimate key to success in college.
24. Saving money is difficult. Making money is even more difficult, if you're jobless. (That was a no-brainer.)
25. Paramore was being sarcastic in their song "Ain't it Fun [living in the real world]"... but it is, however, good living on your own.
26. Dorm fire drills/alarms at 4 a.m. are the worst.
27. Dorm fire drills/alarms at any hour are annoying. But instead of complaining, follow all instructions given by the authorities evacuating you. Safety first-- you never know if there may actually be a fire!
28. Your student fees are probably going toward the fitness center, health clinic, and counseling center. Make use of them, even if you don't have any problems. Exercise is great, keeping your health in check regularly is great, and talking to someone when you're down is great. 
29. If you have to take out student loans, do it. You are investing in your future.
30. Don't wait until the last minute to get your textbooks.
31. Rent your textbooks. It is cheaper than purchasing a book that you may not need again.
32. Buy used if there aren't any rental textbooks available. That'll save you some money.
33. Don't sell your textbooks back to the bookstore. Instead, try selling to another student who plans to take the class which requires said book. If you're desperate for cash, then go ahead and sell it to the book store. Just be wary. 
34. Watching The Walking Dead is 10 times more fun when you watch it with your new college buddies.
35. High school never ends. There will still be drama junkies who carry on the drama that we all thought we left behind in high school. Don't be one of those people.
36. Not having class on Fridays is really awesome. Who doesn't love a 3-day weekend?
37. Going to a college within 15 miles of where your alma mater is located will most definitely be the high school reunion you didn't sign up for.
38. Walking to class in the rain isn't fun, especially if you go to school in a windy downtown area. 
39. In the event of rain, have a rain coat and sturdy umbrella. If it's a cheap umbrella, that wind will blow it away... and might even take you with it.
40. If you go to a college in a downtown area, avoid standing too close to the street when walking around campus during a rainstorm. You may get viciously splashed by a vehicle who drives through a puddle...
41. Organization is key.
42. Loud roommates are undesirable. 
43. Dorm room walls and ceilings are not soundproof. 'Nuff said.
44. People will smoke in their dorms regardless of the rules. Sigh. Nothing like a dorm hallway reeking of tobacco, or in some cases, marijuana... *shakes head disapprovingly*
45. Snow days + dorm life = fun fun fun fun fun
46. If you want to make friends, you have to get involved somehow. Whether it's saying hello to someone you pass regularly on the way to class, joining the theatre, or engaging in intramural sports teams. You'll find someone similar to you and thus form new bonds. 
47. If you need help, just ask.
48. USE YOUR RESOURCES!
49. Growing up is difficult, but definitely something we need to learn to do. There's a time and a place to be a kid, but we must know how to conduct ourselves in certain settings.
50. Life goes on. Don't sweat the small stuff. Work hard. Stay strong. You've got this!

Here's to another 3+ years! I am currently taking a May-mester class which ends the first week of June, but I am otherwise on summer break! Here's to long summer nights by the pool, cruising with friends, blowing our money on delivery pizza, and sleeping in... unless, of course, you have a job, in which case you may have to kiss sleeping in "goodbye" and get to bed early (yeah, right). Happy almost summer!

Until next time,

Kelsey