A post dedicated to my sister and an open letter to college freshmen starting Summer B.
Time really does fly when you are having fun! It feels like just yesterday that I was a freshmen fumbling with my dorm keys and getting lost on campus. Now it's time for my sister to make the big move onto her next journey in life. I’m not going to lie, my move-in day is a blur. However, that summer was everything memorable and filled with unforgettable lessons. While I left home with many of “lasts”, I entered college to many of “firsts.” My first time living on my own, my first time having to wear shoes in the shower, and my first time that I was completely responsible for my own survival. Whether you will admit it or not, you cannot deny that this is a time of change and nerves are normal. The following are things to expect and tips for surviving freshman year summer B.
So let's talk about the 5 S's (and 1 D): School, Safety, Social, Sex, Self, and Dorm life.
"Alexa, how do I college?":
It’s up to you to attend class, do homework, study, etc.
Don't slack off in your easy classes, you will need them as a GPA cushion when you take harder classes.
Map out your classes before your first day.
Read the syllabus.
Take your laptop to dinner before getting serious. (aka. get to know your laptop)
Once upon a time there was a freshmen girl who went to college with a macbook air. She struggled with the mouse pad and didn’t know how to use canvas (course management system). When finals week arrived, it seemed she still wasn’t a pro and accidentally deleted her final project 15 minutes before it was due. After restarting from scratch and submitting whatever she was able to throw together, she later somehow recovered the original one. Then she proceeded to cry because her project was sh*t. Do not be like her. That being said:
Back up and consistently save your work.
Summer B is the best time to figure out how to use your school's websites/apps.
Get familiar with Venmo,Uber/Lyft, and Tapingo
Venmo: app for sending payments; super easy and widely used among college campuses
Uber and Lyft: perfect way to get around and the best way for everyone to go out and have fun without having to worry about a DD. UberEats by Uber also delivers food to your front door.
Tapingo: Ain't nobody got time to wait in lines. Order your food on Tapingo and get notified when it's ready to be picked up.
Be aware of the place and time you spend on electronics (major distractors).
Be mindful of what you post on social media.
Know your options of transportation
If you are taking the bus, make sure you know which bus, where the bus stop is, and the timetable of the bus routes. There is an RTS app where you can find this information if that's the method of transportation at your school.
Dorm Sweet Dorm
Put some damn shoes on your feet when taking a shower or going into communal bathrooms.
Actually follow the directions for command strips.
My freshmen year, my dorm was decorated with hanging lights and a tapestry. Unfortunately, a combo of cinder brick walls and impatience for waiting for the command strips to settle led to me waking up several times suffocating under my tapestry and tangled in lights.
Mattress topper and mini fridge= dorm essentials!
Are you a lazy laundry doer? Solution: Bring more clothes!
Bring enough to last a week or 2 without having to drag your laundry bin down the hall every other day. If you don't have wheels on your laundry basket, place it on top of a rolling chair and wheel it to the laundry room.
If you have a problem with your roommate, confront them and find a way to compromise. You don’t have to be BFFs with your roommate, but you do have to be considerate.
Don’t forget your dorm keys.
Safety
Don’t walk alone at night and always be cautious of your surroundings.
Know about the medical amnesty policy if there is one at your school.
Social
Collaborate to graduate.
Introduce yourself to others; meet people both inside and outside of your major/class; find a study buddy to help you succeed.
Call home every now and then to reassure them you are alive
If you are under 18, do as much illegal sh*t as possible.
Totally joking!!! But college should be a balance of both work and play so go to parties, go out,
socialize, and have fun! Be responsible and don't be too trustworthy with everyone you meet though.
Let's talk about sex babyyyy
I feel like this needs to be addressed because people often associate sex with going off to college and it does happen. I'm not promoting promiscuity nor am I shaming it, but rather I'm providing information.
Three words: always have consent.
Get tested and use protection.
Many schools provide free condoms at their health clinics.
Don't be embarrassed to take one, be smart and take some.
If you have problems or questions related to sex, don't be afraid to go to the student health clinic.
They deal with this stuff all of the time and will not judge you.
Sorry to the good guys out there, but majority of freshmen college boys are f*ckboys. (this can also be said for girls)
The hookup culture has become increasingly normalized on college campuses. However, do not feel pressured to give in to this if casual sex isn't what you want.
Self
Let's Get Physical People: Stop with the dirty minds some of you! I’m talking about the freshmen 15.
Of course you need to workout to stay or get fit, but also the simple physical movements in your day-to-day routine add up. Try to walk as much as possible (ex: walk to classes, to the dining hall, to the gym) and take the stairs.
Try a side of veggies with that pizza you're having for dinner.
Definitely embrace the college lifestyle and go for it at ordering the post-night out meal, or the midnight cookies, etc. but be sure to do this in moderation. Balance your diet and take into consideration your portion sizes.
Drink water and if you have long hair always carry a hair tie or scrunchy with you.
Heat stroke and dehydration are major issues so be sure to always have your water bottle. I'm from Florida and the summer heat is NOT fun when you are trying to walk outside to class. It’s even worse when you sleep through your alarm, miss the bus, and have to sprint to class with your hair sticking to your sweaty face.
Break up with your girlfriend/boyfriend because you'll be bored.
Joking!! but if you are going into college while in a relationship, let your partner have freedom/don't let your partner hold you back from going out and trust them. If you can't trust them, then you need to re-evaluate your relationship.
This is your time to be selfish: Make yourself your priority.
Be respectful of others.
People from different walks of life will be united under the shared pride for your school. Be open-minded and expect to meet people different from you in their views, thinking, opinions, and interests.
Live in the moment, but also take lots of pictures/videos so you can later go back and relive some of your favorite memories.
College is about overcoming struggles and learning how to work smarter. But this is also the time to live your craziest life without it being totally socially unacceptable to behave in certain ways. So be yourself and have fun this summer semester! Welcome to College!!
Feel free to contact me if you have any comments, questions, or concerns!
XOXO,