Freshman year blues

Future Freshman 

After over a month of being home from school, it has officially hit me that the end of freshman year of college has come. It is sad and weird to think that one year of college is already over; it really does go by fast. As always, any semester in college is full of stress, fun, great times, friends and a load of work. But, freshman year is something special. It is a time where you meet amazing people that you will keep in your life for the rest of your life. There are things you do differently than you do at home (especially your eating habits) and things that you get used to. Here is some of my advice from my experience as a freshman..

1. Being home sick is okay.
• This may be your first time being away from home. You may feel out of place and uncomfortable. That is okay!! Many people get the blues when they first move in to school. Stick it out. Do not come home and miss out on amazing experiences.
  Do not be afraid to put yourself out there.
2. Be friendly to every single person you meet.
• It never hurts to put a smile on someone else's face. Do your best to try to meet as many people as you can when you first move into college. Don't be afraid to introduce yourself to strangers because you never know, they could become your best friends. 
3. Be the best self you can be.
• Being in college is a great time to show people your best self. No one knows who you are and it is a great time to start fresh. Making new friends can be tough but your true friends will accept you for who you are (I know super corny). 
4. Accept the fact that the food is not as great as it is at home.
• The dining hall is quite an experience. It has the best cookies and ice cream you can ever imagine, while the rest of the food is not the best. Your body has to get used to the different kinds of food you eat on a daily basis in the dining hall because you will realize that the food at home is a lot better. (sorry you saw that one coming).
5. Rush a sorority/fraternity if you want. 
• Rushing was one of the greatest things that has happened to me. You meet so many amazing people in the process of recruitment which makes it easier to find friends. This does not mean you have to be a "sorority girl"or "frat legend," it can help you get involved in your school and love it even more.  
6. Do not forget to call your mom.
• Yes it is college, and yes you still need your mom sometimes. You take for granted how much your mom does for you on a daily basis. Make sure you call her at least once a day to keep in touch and to remind her that her kid still needs some mom time :). 
7. Put in your best.
• College is the best time to find your true self so why not put your all into everything you do? Work your tushy off and become the best kind of person you want to be. There is nothing wrong with being yourself and finding the kind of person you want to be. 
8. Sleep as much as you can.
• Having early classes makes you appreciate your naps and sleeping for 8+ hours a night. College can become very exhausting at times between school work, socializing and your own time. Sleep time is valued in this because without sleep you cannot function to do the things you need. 
9. Party, but not too much :). 
• Frat basements are definitely something to go to. However, there is a fine line between going out too much and buckling down to finish your work. Pick the right choice but don't forget to have fun!

As a freshman, there is a lot that you will learn. You will start to get into your habits and understand how successful you want to be for yourself. Adjusting to a new school in a new environment is rough for everyone, but luckily you are not alone. As an incoming sophomore, I wish I had an older sister or role model to tell me these things and to prepare me for what I needed to know. It is okay that I did not because it helped me learn and grow as a person. University of Delaware has my heart for the rest of my life and I could not be happier to call it home. 

-Caroline xo

"Because if you are lucky enough to have people in your life that make you happy, that inspire you, that move you, you need to devour each moment you have together because you never know how many of those moments you have left. These people are sacred." -Katie Kacvinsky