Freshman year feels like a whirlwind. You’re tossed into a brand new environment, may even not know a single person there, and your life is flipped on it’s head in a matter of 24 hours.
You feel like you are the only one that doesn’t know what there doing and it can be easy to forget that everyone is in the same situation Though its inevitable that you are going to have some freshman year mistakes, there are some stark things I wish I did to make my experience a bit easier.
1. I Didn’t Knock on Enough Doors Early On
Knocking on doors is a bit simple and specific, but hear me out: this is when everyone is looking to make friends. Though this may sounds stressful, but not everyone may be looking to make friends the rest of the year.
And while i’m not saying the friends you make at the beginning of the year are going to be your friends the rest of the year, don’t make the mistake of waiting until people already aren’t excited to have someone knocking on your door.
Another thing that gets harped on in college is networking. Put yourself out there, be bold and knock on other peoples doors. One time I heard some great advice and it was called the rule of 5. You should try to find 5 people early on. Those 5 will have 5, and so on.
I wish I had just gone for it—knocked on more doors, introduced myself. Some of the best friendships start from spontaneous little moments like that.
2. I Only Hung Out With the First People I Met
It’s so easy to cling to the first group you meet because it feels safe. Don’t get me wrong, some of those people might become lifelong friends. But I got way too comfortable, too fast.
I didn’t branch out or give myself space to connect with with lots of people. Don’t be afraid to mix it up. You’re not being disloyal by exploring new connections.
3. I Didn’t Sign Up for Enough Clubs
At the involvement fair, I got overwhelmed, signed up for a couple things, then never followed through. Or I’d try a club once and feel awkward because I didn’t know anyone yet, so I’d just not go back. Big mistake.
Clubs are one of the easiest ways to meet people who actually care about the same stuff you do. I wish I’d given myself more chances to stick with something and find my place.
4. I Compared Myself to Everyone
It felt like everyone else had their was ahead of me—joining clubs, making friends, posting photos. I kept thinking I was behind. But the truth is, most people are faking it. Just look at college athletes and social media mistakes, even the people who you think are the most together mess up sometimes.
That group that you are jealous of down the hall may not even truly like each other and won’t be friends in a week, everyone’s figuring it out in their own time.
5. Don’t Forget About Your Life at Home
You don’t need to try and tough it out alone. I felt like asking for help made me look like I wasn’t enjoying college, but the people around you want to help. Its okay if its as silly even a college essay mistakes, you have people there for you.
You have family, advisors, RAs, and friends for a reason. I could’ve saved myself a lot of stress if I had just spoken up sooner.
Freshman year is all about learning—sometimes the hard way. But if I could go back and do it again, I’d remind myself of these tips. There is going to be awkward moments and there may be some times where you have to do things alone. Keep putting yourself out there.
Want to hear about more mistakes I made so you don’t have to? Check out my article on Unexpected Essentials for College Life