What I learned from freshman year

Freshman year is over! And what a year it has been. There are certain things I would have liked to know about school before I left. But, since my freshman year is over, I have knowledge behind my belt and I'm ready to share it with you all! Here are the Do's and Don'ts of freshman year.

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DO NOT schedule for a 7:45 or 8:00 AM class; especially on a Friday. If you are anything like me, you might think you can do it. You did it in high school so you can do it in college, right? Wrong. I hated having to roll out of bed every Friday to go to my fashion technology class. Mind you, I loved the material we covered in that class. But I hated feeling sluggish and inattentive. Now, the earliest class I will sign up for is 9:15. Don't put yourself in the same position I was in.

DO NOT wait until the night before a paper is due to start it; at least start it a few days before it is due. You will definitely regret it the next morning if you wait. Also, you will get tired and the quality of your writing will decrease. Every student has a different way of delivering successful work. For example, I work well under pressure. So finishing a paper two days before it is due is not a problem for me.

DO NOT over-pack. I will go more into detail with this in a future blog post or video. But please do not bring your entire closet to college. You will thank me later.

DO NOT let your counselor take control of your class scheduling. Tell them what classes you want to take, what semester, and at what time. I struggled with this when scheduling for my second semester. I went along with everything my counselor said because I thought "She knows what she's doing!" But let's be real; this is your future, not your counselors. Take control of your schedule.

DO NOT over/under-spend your meal plan. I have done both. You do not want to have hundreds of dollars left over at the end of the semester. At the same time, you do not want to be short $100 in the last week of school. I over spent in my last semester. I had to buy bread, peanut butter, and jelly and eat pb&j for three or four days. Be smart with your money and track how much you spend.

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DO get involved. Don't just go to class and go back to your room everyday. Be a part of a club or fraternity or sorority. You could even get a job. With that, go to school-sponsored events. Being involved will make your college experience even better.

DO make friends. You won't make any friends by calling home hour complaining about how alone you are. This goes with the previous DO. Joining clubs will help you meet people with similar interests. Don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people.

DO meet with your teachers at their office hours and go to exam reviews. This is very important. Asking for help does not make you seem like a nerd (not that that matters because nerds are cool too). Going to exam reviews and office hours gives the professor an opportunity to know your face and name and help you more. Take advantage of these opportunities before your grade suffers. A number of my professors stated that they do not appreciate when a student comes to their office hours two days before the final exam asking for help to improve their grade. So, stop in and learn!

DO network. I was lucky enough to have a great professor who I still stay in contact with. She stressed the importance of networking early in your college career. Linkedin is a great source to do so. I suggest you sign up as soon as possible.

DO make time for fun. College is primarily about getting a education and finding a career. But, don't make studying the only activity you do! Go out with your friends or have a girl's (or guy's) day in someone's room. All work and no play won't make you a well-rounded person. Live a little!

I hope this advice helps. Good luck with your first (or next) year of college! Be Uniquely You.

~The Natural Queen