Your first year of college is bound to be nerve-wracking.
In response, The Auburn Plainsman's editorial staff offered their own advice for incoming freshmen.
Lily Jackson, intrigue editor, threw in her two cents.
“Leave behind everything from high school, start with a fresh mind set and get as involved as you can,” Jackson said.
College can be terrifying when you start, but a key thing to remember is that college is not high school. The dynamic is very different. You’ll find yourself between a rock and a hard place if you cling to your high school experience and friends.
This is a new start, so take advantage of it. There are hundreds of things to do on and off-campus, including organizations, get-togethers, parties and sports. Don’t load yourself down, but don’t forget to go out and have fun.
Chip Brownlee, community editor, said to get out and make some friends.
“Don’t worry if you don’t have a ton of friends on the first day. They’ll come,” Brownlee said. “And don’t betray yourself to try to fit in.”
Brownlee made a good point. You don’t need to make friends your first day. You have plenty of time. More importantly, you shouldn’t compromise on who you are in hopes of fitting in.
Weston Sims, opinions editor, agrees with Brownlee.
“Meet lots of people," Sims said. "Especially people you wouldn’t normally envision yourself being friends with,” Sims said.
You’ll find when you start college that the world is a bigger place than you imagined. With all the opportunities that Auburn offers, you can find people that you relate to and make friends for life.
Anne Dawson, online editor, said to utilize your time and get involved on campus.
“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there," Dawson said. "Get involved and be outgoing. You won’t regret it,” Dawson said.
Important tip: Keep up with your schedule and know when events are. It’s easy to lose track of time or forget to go to a meeting, so keep a planner.
Claire Tully, campus editor, said to figure out a campus route.
“If you’re worried about getting around campus and making it to classes on time, try to make your own routes,” Tully said.
Plan ahead and know where you need to go and when. It’s always a good idea to figure out shortcuts for how to go through your schedule in the fastest amount of time possible. If possible, try to explore the campus to know where your classrooms are. This will help with your confidence level.
What makes starting college so terrifying to some is the expectations—the idea that you must to do a thousand things at once: study, socialize, join organizations and try as many new things as possible. Really though, overworking yourself will cause a short-circuit.
Sarah Partain, intrigue writer, said that college is anything you want it to be.
“You don’t have to fulfill this four-years-and-graduate mold,” Partain said. “You can switch colleges; you can graduate late or early. Don’t think you have to have a ‘typical’ four-year college experience.”
Feel free to try quirky classes for credit hours like Online Organic Gardening or Water Aerobics (both real classes). Not every class you take needs to be toward your major, so make sure you enjoy your college experience by trying new and strange things that you had never considered.
These are some of the best years of your life. Don't waste them and live 'em up.
The Auburn Plainsman wishes you a fantastic year.
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