10 Things I Wish I Would have Known About College in High School

After graduating high school, we're all simultaneously thrown into this "real world" concept that society puts in our heads. It's this "real world" that forces us to critically think about the next steps of our lives. What exactly do we want to do? What kind of person do we want to be? Where do we want to end up? 

It's these type of questions that keep many people up at night, because not many people truly know what they want. And how can we honestly expect ourselves to know? We're young adults still figuring out the consequences of our footsteps. 

For many people, college is the next step after graduating high school. Going into college, I thought I was entering a utopia of having fun, figuring out who I was, and preparing myself for the "real world." But once I got to college and finished my Freshman year, everything I thought was going to happen wasn't exactly what it was played up to be. So these are 10 things I wish I would of known about college before I got here. 

1) School Isn't Everything - As much as people try and get good grades, grades alone won't depict what you do after college. It's not like high school anymore. A 4.0 GPA and 36 on your ACT doesn't automatically make you the best candidate, but yes, it does makes you a pretty damn good one. Internships, extracurriculars, and networking will ultimately get you on the path you want to be on after graduation. 

2) Party with your head on your shoulders - Don't be stupid. Don't flash a group of 100 people just because you want that immediate satisfaction of being "that person." Trust me, 1-2 years down the road you won't want to be walking around campus known as "that person." Have fun, party. Hell, even have your fair share of fun during the week. But don't let temporary feelings turn into negatives. 

3) Venture out of your dorm - Once you arrive at college, you're immediately put with a random crop of people who you will most likely live around for the rest of the year. Don't make bad first impressions. Get to know these people, because some of these relationships you make will be life-long. Others, will not. While you may be tempted to spend copious amounts of time with these people due to convenience of location, venture out. Many of the best relationships I've made in college are outside of where I live because we meet out of shared interests, not because of a random assignment. 

4) Get Involved - Whether that is student government, the arts, Greek Life, intramurals, etc., get involved. Many organizations/activities are great resume builders, fun, and full of people with similar interests.  

5) If you don't like your school, leave - I've personally made the mistake of staying where I didn't want to for too long, and I'm still there. The best advice I could give someone after their freshman year is to trust their gut. If you honestly feel like you would be happier at a different University, transfer. There will be new opportunities for growth wherever you go. 

6) Don't end high school relationships for the unknown - There is a common myth that once you graduate high school, you have to put all past relationships aside. Your past relationships don't have to end just because you're going to different Universities. Long distance relationships can work if both people make the effort. Keep in touch with old friends. They might be people you end up coming back to down the road for advice, jobs, and friendships. 

7) Pre-Med is NOT for everyone - I can't tell you how many people walk around the first few months and tell everyone, "I'm going to be a doctor," and after the first semester of classes, they receive their grades and change their major. Major in something you're passionate about, not what makes others happy. And screw anyone who tells you that you shouldn't major in something because it's too easy, there aren't enough jobs in the field, the pay isn't good enough, etc. There is no clear-cut path to success. I'm a Communications major, and I'm more than confident I'll be successful one day with whatever I end up doing. 

8) Be confident - Your freshman year is a time when you can completely start over. Forget about the negatives from your past and be confident with what you do, even if you have no idea what you're doing. Have a good time, express your opinions, and be happy. People are drawn to others who are confident and happy. 

9) College can be lonely - Even though you're surrounded by dozens of people every second of the day, it's normal to be lonely. College is a time to figure out a lot of things, and it's alright to feel like no one understands where you are coming from, or what you aspire to be. At the end of the day, everyone thinks about themselves. Stay in touch with your family and close friends. You'll find yourself reaching out to them more than you thought you would need to. 

10) Take time to breath - I've made this mistake one too many times. I've been so caught up in everything around me that I neglected to take care of myself. Take some time to process your day, whether that's a few minutes, or hours. Write down the highlights of your day. Listen to music. Watch some Netflix. Workout. Eat. Sleep. Go for a long walk or drive by yourself. Just breath.