Say goodbye to your high school gang and say hello to the strangers of the University of Diversity. It’s scary but exciting, right? If you studied well, you probably got yourself into the state university, or one of the best schools in Laguna – but are you prepared to immerse yourself in college life? If not, here are 5 tips to help you survive and thrive on your first day:
1. Your Day Starts The Night Before
Are you the tardy kind? Why? Cause people said it was cool? It’s not! My advice, learn from the normal, “uncool”, anxious incoming freshman who’s too excited to go to college that they prepare everything the night before. So, press your clothes, pack those new notebooks, unused pens, even your corny jokes and more importantly, sleep early.
In the morning, you don’t have to worry about being late and making an embarrassing entrance on the first period – 10 uncool points avoided! BTW, this principle is also the secret to being the punctuality guru at work!
2. Wear Clothes That Are… You
Most freshmen try too hard to impress people on the first day. They wear clothes they think other people will like, but the style isn’t exactly… them.
Don’t try to impress others by being somebody else. If your peers like you for who you’re not, that’s 4 years of playing pretend. On the other hand, if you’re honest up front, you’re more likely to find people who will like you for who you are. My advice, be confident in your own skin – 2 years of inner torment avoided!
3. Bring Food, Extra Food I Mean…
It’s really hard to strike a conversation with a complete stranger if you’re not the type. My secret icebreaker: food. They say that, “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” – well, it’s true for both men and women (or shall I say boys and girls). Bring food that you can share and… voila! It’s easier to start camaraderie over some Pringles or Piatos, but if you still don’t know what to say, try Lifehack.com’s 45 Questions To Get To Know Someone. – 3 minutes of social awkwardness avoided!
4. Make lots of friends!… or just one 🙂
Everybody feels the need to be accepted – on our first day in college, this need is magnified. My advice, don’t fight it! Go out and socialize! Trust me, you can never have too many friends on your first day. If you think you’re socially awkward, then just… try.
There’s no harm in trying. If you don’t have it in you to join a big group, then at least try to befriend even just one. But, if all else fails and you don’t make any friends – relax! You have not failed as a human being. Because honestly, the friends you make on the first day aren’t necessarily your new best buds/BFFs. You will go through a couple of friend cycles before you find your true friends – 4 years of loneliness avoided!
5. Keep A Positive Outlook
Don’t feel defeated if you’re not the Rockstar of your class on the first day. You’ll have 4 years to find out your place in college. These four years can be an enjoyable rollercoaster ride or a depressing bus ride. It is what you make of it. So keep a positive outlook. Truth be told, college is ridiculously hard – but why does everyone miss it?
Be awesome on your first day! We’d love to hear about your stories on the comments section below, so sound off when you’re not busy being popular (wink!)
