By Hannah Cristofano, Chartiers Valley Class of 2015You’ve almost made it to the end of the four years that at some points, seemed almost impossible. From “late” nights of studying for tests, to Friday night football games that soon turned into Saturday mornings with friends, to after school food runs (because who doesn’t want Moe’s 3 times a week?), to the dreaded Sunday morning practice before a big game, to the extravagant and frankly, unnecessary Promposals – all of these things will soon be happening for the last time. It’s scary and exciting at the same time, and it’s okay to feel a mix of emotions concerning graduating. High school is just the beginning of you becoming who you really are as a person. I thought I was ready to leave high school behind and jump right into college. I was wrong. Here are a few pieces of advice from a person who was in the same spot as you are right now just one short year ago.
1. High school is NOT the best four years of your life.
Looking back, I laugh at people who had told me that high school was going to be the best four years of my life. This couldn't be more false. High school was great, don’t get me wrong, but college is honestly where I’ve had the most fun and life changing experiences. Granted, I’ve only been here for eight months, but I already can see myself becoming the person I want to be. In college, you find your people. I’m not saying that you aren’t going talk to anyone you graduated with ever again, but when you go to college you really find people who hold the same values as yourself and who do the same things for fun that you do. Do not believe anyone that says high school will be the best for year of your life because they’re wrong. Going off to school and living on your own is life changing and for the first time being able to start fresh and be whoever you want to be is one of the more important aspects of finding out who you really are.
2. If you’re not doing what you love, stop doing it.
I cannot stress enough that if you do not absolutely love and enjoy your intended major, do not go into that field of study. If you’re uncertain, sit in on a class pertaining to your intended major and really think about if you could see yourself succeeding in that program. It is completely okay if the answer is no and you absolutely hate it after you've sat in on a class or taken other steps to gain more information on the program. By doing this you’ve saved yourself time and money and can now move on and figure out what really makes you happy. I look at it as what you choose to major in is what you're going to be doing for the rest of your life. If you can’t stand Psych 101 why be a Psych major and continue dreading going to class every day? In the end, it’s wise to choose passion over paycheck. You have to love what you do with all of your heart because why be investing hundreds of thousands of dollars into your education only to hate going to work every day?
3. It’s okay to not know what you want to major in.
This is so important for high school seniors to realize. I had absolutely no clue what I wanted to do with my life when I was a senior. Well actually, I still don’t. It’s okay. Go in as undecided or undeclared and take classes you’re interested in. Don’t worry that all of your friends already have a plan for their lives because to be honest, almost everyone I know has already changed their mind at least once on what they plan to major in. The kids who want to be doctors will sometimes end up as philosophy majors because they can’t pass O-Chem. And the future lawyers will begin as science majors. This is perfectly fine. At 18, you’re expected to make a decision that, I believe, no one is really ready for. You’ll end up in the right place and classes and one day it’ll just click and you’ll realize exactly what you’re supposed to be doing for the rest of your life.
4. Stop wishing away the last month of your senior year – you’ll soon be begging for it back.
This is so important. Right now I bet you’re all thinking about the biggest milestones of senior year approaching. Senior Prom, your last spirit week, senior skip days, AP testing (you might not be looking forward to this), and ultimately graduation day. You want them to all happen now, but please don’t wish away the best days of high school because you’re ready to leave. It’s cliché. One day you’ll be sitting in the library at your school at 2 am wishing you could go back to a simpler time in your life. Take advantage of all of the activities planned for the end of senior year and tell the people who have made high school enjoyable for you, how much you appreciate them. Everyone is always so excited to graduate and “get the heck out of here”, that you realize in a few months, everything you had been wishing away is the only thing you want back right now.
5. Every “last” also comes with a “first.”
You never really realize you’ve experienced a “last” until you’re sitting at your seat on the field at graduation reflecting on senior year. You remember your last game under the lights, your last assignment that you had due, your last Friday night football game in the student section, your last school lunch, and your last walk to the student parking lot with your best friends. These all happen so quickly and are little parts of our lives that actually turn out to being big parts of our lives. While these “lasts” are sad, we often forget that there is a “first” that comes alone with it. Like the first time you meet your future roommate, or the first thing you buy to decorate your dorm with. Maybe it’s the first time you log into your college email account and find your class schedule for the upcoming semester that says you have an 8 a.m. every day of the week. These “firsts” are exciting. Do not dwell on the ending of an era, but get excited about the fact that you have a brand new life waiting to be started.
6. When dorm shopping, read “dorm supply” lists, but do not buy every single product listed.
I can promise you that you won’t need all of the recommended supplies on the list. I mean who even thinks to bring an ironing board to college? You’ll use the essentials and if you find out you need something, get it the next time you’re home. There’s no need to spend thousands of dollars shopping and thinking you’ll need a bunch of stuff that you don’t even use at home. Bring your summer and fall clothes to start and then at Thanksgiving, depending where you go to school it may be earlier, bring your winter clothes. You will not need snow boots in August. Leave those at home and pack the flip flops. You have such a little amount of space, I cannot stress enough how important it is to only bring the things you’ll absolutely need.
7. Put yourself out there on your college’s Facebook group and start talking to people before you move in.
It was refreshing to recognize a few familiar faces during orientation week since I had talked to a few people on Facebook before moving in. There’s no harm in introducing yourself and getting to know some people during the summer. If you live close by, plan to meet up and hang out. Everyone is nervous about making friends just like you are. Give it a try. You never know who you end up meeting. I met one of my best friends here at school before we had even started school.
8. Do not stress about not knowing how to manage your time, do laundry, or keep your room clean.
No one knows how to live on their own until at least three months into college. You’ll figure out what works best for you in terms of how to study, and how to keep yourself organized and clean. Everyone figures it out at one point. It’s one of those things that you have to learn what works best for your personal self. No one can tell you how to manage your time so you’re not still at the library at 3 a.m. the night before an exam, you just have to decide what motivates you and what will produce the most success for yourself. I think one of the most important discoveries I’ve made about myself is that I cannot function unless I have my planner full of everything I have to do. Find something that keeps you on track and organized and success will follow.
9. If you’re struggling in class or any other aspect of college, get help.
Contrary to popular belief, the school is not out to get you. I’ve come across almost all of my professors being willing to stay after class or schedule a meeting with me to help me with anything I need. Professors want you to be successful and their job is to help you and make sure you’re succeeding, especially when you’re spending thousands of dollars to take their classes. Never feel ashamed that you need to ask for help or even just need someone to talk to. I’ve had plenty of meetings with professors who are more than happy to just check in with their students and to have a friendly conversation. There is nothing wrong with needing a little bit of help every once in a while. You're a first semester freshman – you do not have everything figured out yet and they realize that.
10. Enjoy yourself.
These other tips may help, but the most important advice I can think to give is to enjoy yourself. Yes, your grades are important and that should be your top priority, but there is also a social aspect of college that is equally as important. Don’t be shy. Go out and talk to people you’ve never met before, you never know who might end up being your best friend. Order pizza at 2 a.m. and then wake up tired the next day because you were too busy eating to sleep. It’s okay to let go and do things just because. It’ll be something to look back on and laugh with your friends. Enjoy every second of the opportunity you are blessed with and don’t hold back. This time is yours now, but it will never be yours again.
