College is such an important time in the life of a young adult. For many, it’s the first true taste of freedom. But with freedom comes responsibility, a responsibility that many aren’t prepared for.

I recently finished my first year of college, and it was such an amazing year. However, there are many things I didn’t know going into college that I wish I had. I did some great things, and I made some mistakes, but that’s just a part of life. That being said, I’m a huge advocate of learning from experience, and that includes the experiences of others. Therefore I’ve comprised a list of college DOs and DON’Ts in order to help some of you who may be starting college yourselves.

We’ll start first with the DON’Ts.

DON’T abuse your newfound freedom. Yes, you’re finally living away from your parents. There’s no one around to tell you what and what not to do. You can stay up as late as you want, go wherever you want, and finally do things your way. DON’T go crazy with it. Generally speaking, parents raise you with certain rules for important reasons, arguably the most important of all being your safety. Enjoy your freedom, but use common sense and don’t get yourself in dangerous situations.

DON’T walk alone at night. Ladies, if you decide to go to a party please find a trusted friend or individual to walk you back to your dorm. I am one who always likes to think everything is going to be okay, and that people are trustworthy. Realistically speaking, there are a lot of unpredictable people out there who love to take advantage of anyone in a bad situation. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you have no one to go to for help. Play it safe, and travel with a friend.

DON’T prioritize your social life over your academic success. I am one of the most social people you’ll ever meet. I never pass up an opportunity to meet and form relationships with new people, and there are more opportunities to do so during college than almost any other time. That being said, don’t overdo it. Attend social gatherings, make friends, but if it begins to get in the way of your schoolwork… it’s time to tone it down a bit. Leave yourself time to complete homework, study notes from lectures, etc. It’s simply all about balance.

DON’T overcrowd your schedule. I am one of the biggest offenders of this, as I like to think I can do everything at the same time and still succeed at all of them. Unfortunately, this is rarely actually the case. Try to avoid putting too much on your plate. Balance out difficult classes with some easier ones. Join a club or organization, not five. For some people trying to go to prestigious graduate schools, it might be tempting to take all the most advanced classes. Take advanced classes, but space them out. Otherwise, you’ll get burnt out way too quickly, and it’ll be sure to put a damper on your year.

Now let’s look at some DOs.

DO push yourself out of your comfort zone. Are you generally a shy person? Try making an extra effort to meet one new person a day. Walk around your dorm on move-in day and introduce yourself or offer help to your neighbors. Get to class a few minutes early and make small talk with those seated around you. College is generally filled with so many people from different places with different backgrounds. Asking someone where they’re from is such a simple yet interesting icebreaker. Have you found that you’re generally friends with all the same type of people? Try talking to someone you normally wouldn’t.

DO work hard in the classroom. College is fun and exciting with new people and new experience, but don’t lose sight of why you’re really there. If you’re lucky enough to be at college with the opportunity to get a great education, capitalize on it. Pay attention to lectures, get your homework done, and take care of your responsibilities before indulging in social interactions.

DO familiarize yourself with members of the staff and faculty. You never know when you might end up in a situation where it’s beneficial to have trusted members of staff and faculty to help you out. If you go to a big school, it’s likely that unless you make an effort to make yourself known, you’ll be just another number to your professor. It’s very helpful to have established some sort of relationship with your professors in case you find yourself needing to clear up a discrepancy in grading, or if you mistakenly forget to turn in an assignment on time.

DO plug yourself into a church or other local organization. Building a network of trustworthy individuals is very important, especially when you’re far away from home. I go to school roughly 1,800 miles away from my family, and I can’t stress how incredible my church community has been when I’m in need of help or company. Find a group of reliable people who will have your back in tough times.

This list of DOs and DON’Ts could honestly go on and on as I explicitly describe every interesting problem you may encounter, but then you wouldn’t get to learn from your own experiences… and where’s the fun in that?

Happy Learning!

 

Photo by Kristen Goggin