Listen Up, Freshmen

In honor of many recent high school graduations, I'll post my advice for college freshmen from someone who has been there, done that. I can't promise it'll be brilliant (or original), but hopefully it will be helpful. Now sit back and let an old geezer learn ya a thing or two....

1. You don't own the place, so don't act like it. Just remember how you felt just this year about all those little kids in 9th grade.

2. Put down Call of Duty and pick up your textbook. Of course, there is a place for fun. Just not when you have homework. My freshman year I decided to play games a lot more than doing homework. No wonder I didn't understand my math class. You won't earn a degree in video game playing.

3. Leave the drama in the theater. You thought people would be more mature than in high school? Think again. People don't get more mature, just more crafty and sly in their immaturity. So stay away from those people that never mentally made it out of the 8th grade.

4. Don't overstudy; you'll need the sleep. A mistake that most people make is staying up until 2 a.m. every day just to get a little more study time in. I promise, the extra sleep is worth it. Make your late nights rare. And take study breaks while you study. I know my focus is completely gone after about 30 minutes of study, so at your focus limit, just take about a 10 minute break.

5. Take a little time on your weekend for something fun. Even on your busiest weekend, you need to take a break sometime just to maintain sanity. Whether that's just sleeping in, going out with friends, or whatever you do for fun, it will give you much needed refreshment.

6. Don't be desperate. I'm talking about guy/girl stuff here. She's looking for the prince, he's looking for a female that's breathing and acknowledges his existence. Finding a mate for life is important, but don't let it consume you. I was like that my freshman year. I analyzed everything every girl said to me. I let myself get heartbroken every time someone didn't respond to a Facebook message. It was stupid. It really takes away from simply enjoying life. Takes away from study time too.

7. Find a good group of friends. Well duh, everyone needs friends right? Find people that will encourage you in hard times and laugh with you in good times. You might meet these people at a job. You might meet them in a class. Maybe have weekly lunch plans with a person or group. Everyone needs a support system. Besides, people often meet "the one" (which I don't believe in, but I use the term for sake of understandability) just by hanging out with their friends.

8. Appreciate your teachers. I'll admit, I've had a few teachers I didn't care for. Like, I'd rather suffer through a 3 hour chick flick than attend their class for an hour. But appreciate the time they put in. At least in my case, the vast majority actually cared about students. It would probably hurt the teachers to hear all the things said about them behind their backs. Most of them are probably willing to just get to know students, so take advantage of those who are.

9. Don't get offended easily. You're getting out in the world a little more. Not everyone knows who you are or where you've come from. People will be insensitive about sensitive subjects for you. You can't let people have that kind of power over you. You need to decide what's worth worrying about. You can decide whether or not you let petty things bother you. Transcend the haters. Just do what you know you need to do. Don't let someone else define you. Define yourself.

I hope not having a #10 will bother you OCD people. It's kind of a hobby of mine. I hope you found something useful. I wasn't too clever, but I think if you (freshmen especially) take the advice, life might be a little better for you than when I had to learn the hard way.

-RST