Saturday, August 10, 2013

One Month to Go

Well, it's that time of year again. The back to school commercials are starting to fill the TV screens, the radio ads, and yes, even your dreams if you're one of the highly unlucky few (like me). For UC students there is only a little more than a month left of this glorious freedom the system has dubbed "Summer Vacation". For me this means starting to get excited about moving into my new off-campus apartment with my wonderful friend Nancy (who I met through, surprise, surprise, PEP BAND!). We are also living with two other girls that we met last year who are quickly becoming very close friends of mine as well.

But what does this mean for you, the incoming freshman? It means that a whole new chapter of your life is about to begin. Scary? That's okay. It was for me and countless others before you as well. For most Freshman this means moving away from home for the first time and starting to learn about what it's like to live without your parents in the very next room at all times. For some this can come as a huge sigh of relief, but for others it comes and a huge shock to the system. For me, it was the latter.

I grew up as an only child in a very small community where everyone knew everyone. Moving to La Jolla and going to a school with 3 DIFFERENT ZIP CODES was a huge adjustment. All of a sudden I was a little fish in a big pond. Thankfully I had an amazing roommate who was there to help me through it. If you have the option, I highly recommend living on campus at least for your first year of college. You are close to all of your classes, you can get a real feel for the school, and it's a lot easier to make friends. Your hallmates will also become lifelong friends :).  Plus there's no beating that 7am fire drill that happens at the beginning of every year! You may think that's sarcasm, but they hand out donuts after it's done! And they always buy too much; so if you stick around long enough you score a whole free box of Krispy Kreme donuts!! I'll wake up at 7am for that anyday :D.

Your Freshman year at college is one that you'll remember for the rest of your life, so why not make it count? Take that class that you're interested in, yet has NOTHING to do with your major. Talk to that cute boy or girl sitting next to you in Chem class (I did! He had a girlfriend... but I still got a great Chem Study Buddy out of it!). Go to the dance that the whole school is talking about. I highly recommend LGBT Non-Sexist dance. By far the greatest on-campus dance of my Freshman year.

The most important thing to remember is that college will be an amazing experience whether you stay at UCSD all four years or not. Enjoy this chapter of your life while it's at hand. I promise it's one you'll find yourself looking back on with fondness and nostalgia.