things I learned my first week of college // a guest post from my best friend, Elizabeth

Hey y’all!

I’m super excited because my best friend is guest posting today!! She is delightful and wonderful and sweet. Please give her your best attention, she’s about to blow your mind (hopefully XD). Idk I just really like her.

i’m gonna stop being her hype man and just let her do her thing. 🙂

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Hi, I’m Elizabeth. My major is commercial music, so basically working in the music industry or as I’m jokingly calling it: “How to Get Paid to Be a Musician.” I’m from a city that’s about an hour from here with good traffic. Yeah, I’m living on campus over in Stewart. It’s nice cause we have suite bathrooms.

There you go! That’s how nearly every one of my conversations has gone for the past week-ish since I moved to college. So far, college is, as my friends and I keep putting it…a process. Everything is new. Everything is kind of stressful. And yet- I like it here. I thought I’d put together a list of things I learned during my first week to share with anyone who may be going to college soon or for anyone who wants a laugh at the week I have had. And oh boy, has it been a week. So without further ado, here is your tried-and-true guide to your first week of college.

To start off, there is a LOT of information.

I arrived on move-in day with a minivan full of dorm stuff and a full schedule. Immediately I was making my way through orientation week check-in, the mandatory music major meeting (I’m proud of that alliteration), and dorm check-in. All before noon. By the time I headed to the official kick-off of welcome weekend, my head was already spinning with names and information. What I’ve discovered, is most of the information is available more than once. For example, they may have listed what the different chapels were and when they happened during the week, and I forgot nearly on the spot but was able to find them written down in the school planner I had picked up. Additionally, everyone is working on learning names, so don’t be afraid to ask someone if you can’t remember. It may be embarrassing, but at least you’ll get a reminder!

Next, people want to help you.

It is perfectly normal to be confused. College is a weird thing and you’ve probably never experienced anything like it. Luckily, there are plenty of people to ask questions to, and they want to help you! The people in the library are more than willing to show you how to print or how to order that book you want. The people in the bookstore have a general idea of how long it will take your online order to arrive. The upperclassman by the mailboxes can show you how to open yours. The head of your department can give you advice on how to fix your schedule and show you how to find the classes required for your major online. All of these are questions I asked and received very helpful advice. But make sure you ask the right things to the right people. The peer adviser in the advising center might not know the best way to arrange your schedule around choir. Your admissions counselor might not know how to help you claim your local foundation scholarship. It’s okay. Ask who to ask. I know asking for help can take a lot of courage (at least for me it does) but people want to help you figure it out, so ask.

Alright enough serious advice for the moment. You know what else is true? College is weird man. The stories are true. I’ve only been here a week and I am already amazed and baffled by the things I’ve seen. For the end of orientation week we went to nearby water park, but there was a severe shortage of inner tubes for the lazy river, so everyone just got in it anyway and just…ran around in circles. Yelling the whole time. Two boys walked past me in the caf. the other day and one was wearing a newsboy-style cap, and right behind him was his buddy in a top hat. I admire their boldness and sense of fashion if anything.

Next thing I learned- nights can be hard, so treat yourself gently.

Chances are, if you’re going to college, you’re living on campus and away from your family for the first time. If there’s a time that you are going to miss you family, question your own decisions, or freak out because you don’t really know what you’re doing, it’s night time. Text your family and tell each other about your days. Read that novel you’ve been meaning to get around to. Chat with your roommate. Take breaks to do something fun while you’re doing homework. Don’t try to make major decisions and remember that everything will look brighter in the morning. 

Something I was reminded about myself- I make friends slowly, and that’s okay.

I’ve only moved schools once before- when I started high school. It took me a very long time to find my people and make good friends. It’s hard to remember that is takes time to form real friendships. Luckily I have a couple friends just around the corner from my dorm from my hometown, so we’ve been doing a lot of things together.

Aaaand we’re back to college is weird (this time with pictures)! First up- here’s the cat we saw in the caf before we had to evacuate because the fire alarm went off. 

The other day I was doing homework in my dorm room when two girls walked by my window carrying a car door between them. They were not headed to the parking lot. I have no idea why. 

And finally, when we were having lunch, a girl walked up to a nearby table, pulled out a tablecloth, and started setting the table. Reserved sign and all.

My last piece of advice is to remember that crazy things will happen, but it will turn out okay. Last night, at 1:21 am I noticed our toilet overflowing onto the bathroom floor. I didn’t know what to and put out some paper towels. When my roommate returned around 1:45, she thought to call the non-emergency campus security number and they sent out an officer, who then in turn called the fix-it man who solved our problem. We had to stay awake to wait for them so we decided to watch National Treasure to keep ourselves up and what started as a horrible evening became a funny late night movie party.

College is a process. There’s lots happening and lots to figure out but I think it’s going to be a good experience. 

Thanks for listening to me ramble about my first week! Maddy will be back next week for your regularly scheduled writer-y post. 

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Thanks, love! Fantastic post! ❤ ❤

Now go forth, mis amigos and amigas, and smile. Your day is just beginning. Make the best of it. Don’t procrastinate. Work hard. Make me proud. 🙂

Love you all,

Madeleine