Lessons Learned

A year ago around this time, I was preparing to graduate high school. Ironically enough, even though a year has gone by since graduation, in some ways it feels like just yesterday. But since that time much has happened: I moved to Colorado for a year, survived my first snow in, showed Texas pride, cried when my Texas Rangers lost the World Series, and completed my first year of college as a honors nursing major. Here are some things I learned my freshman year of college:

1.     Moving away from home for college is hard, but it can be done. I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to realize I never have to be afraid to leave home because I can always come back. 

2.     The “Freshmen 15” is real. When do you get it? When you come home from breaks.. What’s up non-cafeteria food?

3.     Sometimes you are going to come across some people you just don’t like. Okay, that’s fine. But you better treat them with respect because they are still people. 

4.     Free food. Free shirts. Free money. Free, the best word you’ll probably hear in college.

5.     Just because you enter into college does not mean people are mature young adults. So many people still have a lot of growing up to do, but keep your head up. People are who they are. Just remember to remain hopeful. 

6.     That country song that says “you find out who your friends are” could not have been more right.  You lose some friends from high school but grow much closer to the ones who really matter.

7.     Communal showers, shower shoes, and shower bucket, all works of the devil.

8.     When you come home for breaks, your family usually acts like they have not seen you in years. Don’t despair. It’s wonderful. Plus you get to eat wherever you want.

9.     If you are planning on being best friends with your roommate, take a step back. People are not always what they seem and living with someone in a prison cell doesn’t always bring out the best in everyone.

10. Not good at painting nails? By the second semester you will be an expert because Heaven knows you cannot afford to get your nails done.

11. If you don’t go to Target or a frozen yogurt place at least once a week you might want to reevaluate your sanity.

12. Your professors want you to succeed. Some of the people I respected the most on campus and went to when I thought I was going to have a mental break down were my professors.

13. You reap what you sow. I mean with both schoolwork and friendships.

14. When you can, study with others. If you can afford to do that at Starbucks that has comfy chairs, go for it.

15. Getting involved on campus is by far the best thing you can do. Well, that and become friends with upperclassmen. They are pretty cool.

16. easybib.com OH MY GOSH

17. Some times you just have to let go of people that do not make you the best person you can be.

18. If you are not happy, do something about it and make a change.

19.  Remember who you are and what you have come from.

20. Don’t wish for time to fly by. One day you’ll be moving in, starting a whole new life and before you know it you’ll be packing it all up, moving back home.