It's over. These last eight months of my life are over, and I could not have asked for a better freshman year of college. Looking back at that hot August day when I was moving in, I don't think I could have ever imagined what was in store for me. Just like most people do in college, I grew up tremendously and experienced things I couldn't have imagined of. Along the way, I found myself, lost myself, found myself again, cut my hair, probably lost myself again, and here I am, taking everything that has happened to me in the last eight months and putting it towards the summertime in order to grow even more. But before I do, I'm taking everything that has happened and sharing it with you. Here are 20 things I've learned my freshman year of college:
1. Things happen when you least expect it. Unfortunately this has to do with both the best and worst things in life, but it is what makes your time in college spontaneous and exciting. Some of best experiences in life happened when I had no idea that they were even a possibility.
2.Be straight forward with people. You're a grown up now, say what you need to say in order to be happy or to get a peace of mind. If you aren't happy with someone, tell them.
3.You don't need to conceal it when you're in a bad mood. I know they say that only you have the power to change your attitude, but sadly, life does not work that way. You are going to be upset. You are going to feel like crap. You are going to cry. That is okay, and it does not mean that you are a mess. You are living with a beating heart.
4.Boys are going to play with you. They are going to make you feel like crap, and please for the love of god, do not let them make you feel that way. You can't control how they are going to treat you, but you can control how you are going to feel. Just remember that if it would have worked out with that asshole, you couldn't of have possibly met the next asshole.
5.Me time should be a thing. Take some time to be on yourself. When you live with people all around you all the time, it can eventually be a stimulus overload. Go to the gym on your own. Go to get dinner on your own. Go get your nails done on your own. Do something for yourself, by yourself.
6.Don't date an actor. Perhaps that is the Los Angeles or film school in me talking, but they are just to good at the game because they are really great at playing the part.
7.Take advantage of opportunities. I know everyone says it, but get involved. Join Greek life, join a club, play a sport. Do something that you enjoy and will help you not only socialize, but as well as be a part of something.
8.It's okay to have one to many drinks. Been there, done that. Whoops. As long as you are being safe and you are with people you trust, take that extra shot. Quite honestly, some of my favorite moments this year was being on the dance floor having the time of my life with my closest friends with a bottle of wine in my hand. Some may call that irresponsible, but I am still enrolled in college with a high GPA, ambitious as ever, and one night of fun will not stop me from that.
9.You never really realize how good you have it at home until you live in a dorm. You'll miss home-cooked meals, clean bed sheets, and the trash magically disappearing. All those things seem trivial, but they really make an impact.
10.People have different opinions than you, and that's okay. I've come across people from all different states and countries. I've come across people from different financial and racial backgrounds. There is not one person I've met that is exactly like the other, therefore opinions and lifestyles are bound to be different. It's okay if you don't agree, but it is important to respect and be respected.
11. Treasure your girlfriends. Whether you are in a relationship or not, or dealing with assholes left and right like myself, never forget to treasure the women around you who are there to bring you up. There is no better feeling than spending a night at Disneyland or watching a movie with your girlfriends while talking about life.
12.You'll fail at something, probably more than once. Yep, you've heard it here. Not everything is going to go your way, and that's okay. Whether it is academic, personal, or social, something will happen that will make you hit a wall, but that's why you are here. You are here, during another chapter of your life, to experience and learn from everything. Get up, and try again.
13.It's okay to put down the books sometimes. Yes, academics are extremely important, and I can't tell you how many times I've stayed up studying and worrying over a test or a project. While it is great that I am so studious, it also important to take a break and live a little. Some of my favorite conversations with friends this year have been past midnight, after a long day of school work.
14.There are no boundaries. This isn't high school. People are not going to think you are weird. People actually find quirky things entertaining. I know of people who ride scooters to campus. One of my good friends dressed up in a Santa costume and went down a Fraternity meeting and made a fool of himself. People just don't care; they know you are trying to enjoy yourself.
15.When one door closes, another one opens. You've probably heard this a million times, but wow, it is so damn true. While I can think of a bunch of examples of how this was true in high school and before, I didn't really learn it until this year.
16.You won't always have the answers. As someone who literally cannot rest until I get the answer, this one was incredibly hard to learn. Actually, I'm still learning this. People are going to fade away without saying anything. People are going to do things that will either make you incredibly happy or incredibly sad. Sometimes, you will never know why people decide to do this.
17.Be understanding. You are human, and everyone is around you is a human. Life happens. Shit happens. Sometimes, people are so terrified of speaking up to others because they are afraid they won't be understanding, and therefore they will sacrifice their happiness. Don't be the person to make someone even more miserable.
18.Write. Buy a moleskine or just any journal, and whenever you get a chance, write in it. Growing up, I always wanted to keep a journal, but I could never simply because I scheduled myself and then found it to be a pain that I would have to write everyday. Now, I just write whenever I feel something.
19.Their talent, beauty, brains, and everything in between does not mean that you are any less talented, beautiful, or smart. I still battle with this one, but I find it easier and easier to understand, especially when surrounded with people who are incredibly talented or beautiful or smart, yet they celebrate your talent, beauty, and brains as well.
20. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy your life. Do not look to far into the future, because soon the present will be your past, and you will never get it back.
1. Things happen when you least expect it. Unfortunately this has to do with both the best and worst things in life, but it is what makes your time in college spontaneous and exciting. Some of best experiences in life happened when I had no idea that they were even a possibility.
2.Be straight forward with people. You're a grown up now, say what you need to say in order to be happy or to get a peace of mind. If you aren't happy with someone, tell them.
3.You don't need to conceal it when you're in a bad mood. I know they say that only you have the power to change your attitude, but sadly, life does not work that way. You are going to be upset. You are going to feel like crap. You are going to cry. That is okay, and it does not mean that you are a mess. You are living with a beating heart.
4.Boys are going to play with you. They are going to make you feel like crap, and please for the love of god, do not let them make you feel that way. You can't control how they are going to treat you, but you can control how you are going to feel. Just remember that if it would have worked out with that asshole, you couldn't of have possibly met the next asshole.
5.Me time should be a thing. Take some time to be on yourself. When you live with people all around you all the time, it can eventually be a stimulus overload. Go to the gym on your own. Go to get dinner on your own. Go get your nails done on your own. Do something for yourself, by yourself.
6.Don't date an actor. Perhaps that is the Los Angeles or film school in me talking, but they are just to good at the game because they are really great at playing the part.
7.Take advantage of opportunities. I know everyone says it, but get involved. Join Greek life, join a club, play a sport. Do something that you enjoy and will help you not only socialize, but as well as be a part of something.
8.It's okay to have one to many drinks. Been there, done that. Whoops. As long as you are being safe and you are with people you trust, take that extra shot. Quite honestly, some of my favorite moments this year was being on the dance floor having the time of my life with my closest friends with a bottle of wine in my hand. Some may call that irresponsible, but I am still enrolled in college with a high GPA, ambitious as ever, and one night of fun will not stop me from that.
9.You never really realize how good you have it at home until you live in a dorm. You'll miss home-cooked meals, clean bed sheets, and the trash magically disappearing. All those things seem trivial, but they really make an impact.
10.People have different opinions than you, and that's okay. I've come across people from all different states and countries. I've come across people from different financial and racial backgrounds. There is not one person I've met that is exactly like the other, therefore opinions and lifestyles are bound to be different. It's okay if you don't agree, but it is important to respect and be respected.
11. Treasure your girlfriends. Whether you are in a relationship or not, or dealing with assholes left and right like myself, never forget to treasure the women around you who are there to bring you up. There is no better feeling than spending a night at Disneyland or watching a movie with your girlfriends while talking about life.
12.You'll fail at something, probably more than once. Yep, you've heard it here. Not everything is going to go your way, and that's okay. Whether it is academic, personal, or social, something will happen that will make you hit a wall, but that's why you are here. You are here, during another chapter of your life, to experience and learn from everything. Get up, and try again.
13.It's okay to put down the books sometimes. Yes, academics are extremely important, and I can't tell you how many times I've stayed up studying and worrying over a test or a project. While it is great that I am so studious, it also important to take a break and live a little. Some of my favorite conversations with friends this year have been past midnight, after a long day of school work.
14.There are no boundaries. This isn't high school. People are not going to think you are weird. People actually find quirky things entertaining. I know of people who ride scooters to campus. One of my good friends dressed up in a Santa costume and went down a Fraternity meeting and made a fool of himself. People just don't care; they know you are trying to enjoy yourself.
15.When one door closes, another one opens. You've probably heard this a million times, but wow, it is so damn true. While I can think of a bunch of examples of how this was true in high school and before, I didn't really learn it until this year.
16.You won't always have the answers. As someone who literally cannot rest until I get the answer, this one was incredibly hard to learn. Actually, I'm still learning this. People are going to fade away without saying anything. People are going to do things that will either make you incredibly happy or incredibly sad. Sometimes, you will never know why people decide to do this.
17.Be understanding. You are human, and everyone is around you is a human. Life happens. Shit happens. Sometimes, people are so terrified of speaking up to others because they are afraid they won't be understanding, and therefore they will sacrifice their happiness. Don't be the person to make someone even more miserable.
18.Write. Buy a moleskine or just any journal, and whenever you get a chance, write in it. Growing up, I always wanted to keep a journal, but I could never simply because I scheduled myself and then found it to be a pain that I would have to write everyday. Now, I just write whenever I feel something.
19.Their talent, beauty, brains, and everything in between does not mean that you are any less talented, beautiful, or smart. I still battle with this one, but I find it easier and easier to understand, especially when surrounded with people who are incredibly talented or beautiful or smart, yet they celebrate your talent, beauty, and brains as well.
20. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy your life. Do not look to far into the future, because soon the present will be your past, and you will never get it back.