I don't know where to begin!
I know that's SO cliché, but it's the honest-to-my-mother truth.
I don't want to make excuses about why I haven't been blogging these last few months, but I've been super busy (insert reader's eye roll here). But my oh my, do we have so much to catch up on!! One way to begin is through a few things I've learned about "Da College Lyfe". List style.
#1: PLEASE TAKE YOUR VITAMINS. (And eat your Wheaties :)
Yes, I'm serious. When you're even as close as an hour away from home, your body has to get used to your living conditions (esp. if you're gonna be living in a moldy dorm like me), as well as the new lifestyle you are now taking on.
#2: MAKE FRIENDS
Of all kinds, that is. Venture out and be a friend to your neighbor, the people who sit beside you in your Bio Lab, that international student that has a hard time in Speech... Whether or not you think that you'll be able to make it out alone, you could make a difference in their lives. For instance, I've met so many other students from way up north and across the country who had no one to talk to.
Plus more friends=more study partners, lunch buddies, and discounted used books (sometimes). But of course those aren't the most important reasons.
#3: TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH
So this goes back to #1, and SHOULD be common sense, but trust me--it's harder than it seems. Get sleep, take vitamins, drink water, and if you're sick, get it checked out.
Side story: Last semester, I was so caught up in being busy and living life nonstop and not taking my proper vitamins that I got sick, but brushed it off as allergies. One lovely night, I woke up and was in such a rough condition that my Big Diamond Sister (more on Sorority Life later) took me to the ER to find I was in hypovolemic shock (from severe dehydration) and I had strep or about three weeks. Oh, and I was let out with a 104.3 fever. Please eat your veggies and vitamins!
#4: GO TO CLASS!!! FOR THE LOVE OF PUPPIES!
I can't stress this enough. Your [college] life depends on this. Many classes have a limit to classes you can miss before you automatically fail, but don't test it. Professors refer back to attendance when considering your grade. Also, some limits are very low, like my English class where the most we could miss was 3, no exceptions.
#5: PAY NO MIND TO SHEEP.
To my surprise, high-school level drama still happens, no matter how hard you avoid it. But you will learn to grow up and let it fly over your head and out the window. It will only continue as long as you let it bother you. As my favorite quote goes: "Lions do not lose their sleep over the opinions of sheep".
#6: PARKING GETS CRAZY. AVOID DRIVING WHEN YOU CAN.
Think of Black Friday parking lots. Every day. Make friends and take turns leading a carpool, or suffer the very well disguised $65 parking tickets for parking in the yellow zone.
#7: COMMUNCATION IS KEY TO WINNING THE HEARTS OF PROFESSORS.
If you're late, talk to him/her after class, even if you think you're a giant ball of awkwardness. If you are going to miss class, send an e-mail or personally let them know. If you have a question, ask. They like interaction with their students.
#8: ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THIS IS NOT HIGH SCHOOL
I repeat: NOT high school. Professors don't care if you were up all night working on a banner, or that you had to drive all the way back from Georgia, your printer wasn't working, or that the campus WiFi signal was too weak. Communication is still key if there is a legitimate problem; however, cut out the phony excuses. Go to Class.
#9: CHECK TO SEE IF THERE IS A FACEBOOK GROUP PAGE FOR BUYING/SELLING USED TEXTBOOKS
If not, make one. On ours, books that are $100 and up sell for about $10, which is SO useful considering most textbooks are tailored for a specific university.
(Picture above: My ADPi sisters and I. I'm in the middle. ):)
