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| most of my freshmen class at our church retreat and truly some of the greatest (and most savage) people you'll ever meet |
It's hard for me to believe it's been six months since I lasted posted on this beloved blog but a lot has happened since. I can truly say I have experienced one of the best periods of my life during these last few months. Last year during this time, I felt both emotional highs and lows due to the fact that is was the dreaded period of college acceptances. I was accepted into my dream school, and I remember running around the house saying that it was the happiest day of my life. However for certain reasons, I was unable to go there. I was emotionally crushed and I remember having an extremely negative attitude toward going to the university that I now attend. I didn't think I could enjoy my time at my current university because it didn't offer the programs I wanted or had the high school friends that I wanted to go to school with. I kept telling myself that my life was unfair when in reality I was so incredibly fortunate but I just couldn't see what was in front of me. I spoke lowly of a school I had not yet even attended. To say that I had a 360 change in attitude is not even close to describing how I feel now. I have grown in every aspect of my life be it emotionally, mentally, or most importantly, spiritually. (Sadly, I didn't grow taller in the physical department.) There were many times during this school year that I wanted to post to update my blog family on how college was going, but I chose to prioritize experiencing college for what is and I honestly don't regret it. I miss all of you dearly, and though I am not going to set a schedule to blog like before, I will definitely try my best to post more. Here are a few of the many things I learned from the first two quarters of my freshmen year.
- Coffee shops are a wonderful thing (and no doubt that's where I'm writing this right now).
- It's possible to get that much needed 8 hours of sleep a night.
- You're going to have a love/hate relationship with your roommate. Just kidding, our relationship is 98% sass and 2% love.
- Spending hours crafting for your dorm room is worth it. You'll be stuck in that tiny box for a year.
- Putting yourself out there is the best way to feel connected.
- Upperclassmen are a blessing.
- And so are small groups.
- Friends with cars make college fun.
- Say yes to being down for late night adventures, even at 1 a.m.
- The Disneyland parade and fireworks are therapeutic.
- Tell your friends you appreciate them.
- Take the initiative when no one will.
- Being single is great, especially when you're making new friends.
- Keep in contact with your high school friends from the start.
- Feeling plugged in is a 50% you thing and a 50% them thing.
- The friends you hang out with at the start of college will not always always be your best friends later.
- It's okay to go to college close to home because you will still grow. (Let's face it, being able to go home is a blessing.)
- Grades are important, but they aren't everything. In the future, you are more likely to remember experiences over grades.
- Freedom is a blessing and a curse in disguise.
- Unless you have enjoyed getting up at 7 a.m. every morning for high school, do not sign up for early classes if at all possible. No matter how good of a student you are, you will most likely not go to them.
- Be extra appreciative when upperclassmen pay for your meals and make sure to swipe them into your dining hall as a simple way of saying thank you.
- Dining hall food is eatable, but it takes a bit of creativity to keep it from getting mundane.
- Enjoy A's, but don't expect them.
- Record your memories, whether that's through a blog post, journal, or vlog.
- Remember to keep your parents updated and show them some love.
- Enjoy your freshmen year because you're only a baby once.
- The less snacks in your dorm the better. Not gaining the freshmen 15 is a wonderful thing.
- As much as it sucks to walk to class everyday, try to enjoy the added exercise and have a step count battle with your roommate.
- Life gets real when you start putting your resume together.
- Everyone experiences college differently.
Much love,
Emily
