A Letter of Advice to Incoming College Freshman

Coming into college may seem like a daunting time for many seniors in high school—after all, it’s a brand new environment with all new people. There are times when you might feel like you’re out of your comfort zone, and that’s totally normal. Everyone experiences those pre-college jitters, but there are definitely ways to cope. 

As I move into my junior year of college, I am finally feeling like I’ve settled into my environment. I have been lucky enough to find amazing friends, excel in my classes, develop relationships with professors and even have the amazing opportunity to study abroad in the fall. But it definitely took some time for me to find my way. Hopefully, these tips and tricks I’ve learned will help you find your footing at school, too. 

Dear incoming college freshman,

Welcome to the next chapter of your life. These next four years are exactly what you make of them: While they definitely can be the best four years of your life, they also can be extremely stressful. As you navigate this new territory, there are some things you should remember to help you get through. 

One: Phones. Though they make a great tool for communication, phones are arguably the downfall of our generation. We have our heads in our phones 24/7 and get so easily distracted that we forget to enjoy the present moment. It’s totally understandable that you might feel awkward in certain social situations and look to your phone to make yourself seem less isolated from the group. But this actually is your opportunity to take a chance at being more social. If this backfires on you and people don’t accept you for exactly who you are, then they’re not your true friends. Keep moving until you find the people you enjoy being around and feel like you can be your authentic self with. It may take a while, but it will all be worth it. 

Two: Take care of your body. I’m sure you’ve all heard the expression “your body is a temple”. This 100% rings true as you enter college. Don’t skip meals just because a walk to the dining hall seems too inconvenient (I’m definitely guilty of this myself, but trust me, I suffered in the end). Also, it’s important to keep a healthy balance between fitness and food. Most importantly, do not fear the “freshman 15”. It happens to absolutely everyone. As long as you’re actively trying to eat clean, you’re allowed to have a few cheat days here and there. The key is to eat the unhealthy stuff in moderation. This also applies to alcohol consumption; the majority of the freshman 15 is attributed to binge drinking, so, limit your alcohol consumption to one or two sugary drinks each weekend. 

Three: Relationships. Take your time to explore and figure out the characteristics you like and don’t like in a significant other. Your life doesn’t have to be figured out in these four years, and you definitely don’t have to feel like you’re dating for marriage when you’re this young. There’s a lot of societal pressure to have at least one boyfriend or girlfriend by the time you’ve graduated high school, or at least I thought so. But just remember, in the grand scheme of your life, if you’re not happy in a relationship, you’re not bound to it by any means. 

Four: Work-life balance. It’s easy to get distracted when there are so many fun things going on around you. You might even give up studying or doing homework because your friends want to hang out (I sure am guilty of this). But it’s important to realize that although it’s crucial to maintain a social life, school must come first. You’re here to get your degree and get a good job first and foremost. So, keep your head in the game—do your homework and treat your social life as a reward for getting the important things done. 

I hope I was able to shed some light on a few questions you may have had about the different aspects of college. Though everyone is different, I’ve found that sticking with these values has helped me navigate my way through this (sometimes) tough terrain. I am wishing you all the best in your future endeavors! 

Sincerely, 

Avery Paulen, Beauty and Wellness Assistant Editor for The Edge Magazine