How to Survive College in the Covid Age
College is normally a huge transition for anyone, but for these college freshman, it’s going to be an even bigger transition; being away from home, having a different social experience, a different education… I want to give you some tips and advice that I had wish I had received myself and have learned through my own experiences.
Here are some general tips and advice that apply whenever:
Do not restrict yourself to certain people because you think that they are ‘your people’: before I even went to college, I had groups of people that I thought I was going to be best friends with because we were all fashion girls, but that is not the case at all! Those Facebook groups and groupme’s of people trying to all make friend groups before school even starts never work out no matter how well you think you know them.
Do not let anyone restrict you from going out with other people: Whether it’s one person or a group of people wanting you to do something that you don’t want to do, do not follow what they say if YOU don’t want to. it’s easier said than done, coming from experience, but know what you want! From my own experience, I had a falling out with someone because she did not like when I went out without her. It is your life and you can’t let other people control it!
Trust your gut. If a situation or a person seems sus, do not go through with it: This advice goes with parties or just any type of situation. Coming from my own experience, I ignored that feeling and it put a damper on my first year and a half of college. I never knew why, but I never wanted to go back to school when I wanted to go home. Once I made a mindset shift, I found an amazing friend group that I love and makes me feel excited to go to school.
Don’t let other people control you: This is one of the biggest things I have learned in college. If you are anything like me where you are a go with the flow type of person, that allows others to take control and make decisions for you. Sometimes, that may be okay, but make sure you know what you want and are able to say no.
Be selfish: These four short years are YOURS, so be selfish! There are so many situations that people are going to want you to do what they want, whether it’s housing, classes, parties, etc., but do what’s best for you. Don’t do something just so others don’t get mad at you. I say this all the time, but all people are selfish to some extent. If they were in your situation, they would do what’s best for themselves first, so you should do the same!
Manage your time: you will have SO much more free time in college than you did in high school, but do not save everything until the last minute. Things will come up that you will need to say no to because you need to finish that project or study. Make sure you develop a routine to get all your work done and still have time for the fun stuff. I promise you will have less time than you think you do.
It is hard to make friends at school, but you are all in the same boat: Be open to new people. If there was one thing I wish I did, it would have been to do those cheesy welcome week activities. I thought I was too cool to make ice cream sundeas. Think about how long it took for you to make the friends that you have now at home. I promise you will find the right people, but it won’t happen right away. I’ve learned that it’s okay to take time to find the right friends, which is something that I was never told. On social media, it looks like everyone makes their life long friends within the first month of school, but it’s very likely that they won’t actually stick with those people because they aren’t who they think they are. It took me a year and a half to find my true friends with MANY mistakes getting there.
Be careful when you are out: I don’t mean to sound like a parent, but girls, PLEASE be careful when you go out. Make sure you never put your drink down. Check the license plate and make the uber say your name before getting into the car. ALWAYS go out with at least one trusted friend that will not leave you for the first guy they see. Make sure you check in with friends as to when they get home safely and make sure you do the same.
Here are some pieces of advice that my friends suggest:
Make sure you act the way you want people to know you as: Reputation is EVERYTHING, whether you are going to a smaller or bigger school. People will talk and know things about you even if they have never even talked to you before, and you want to make sure that those things reflect positively on your part. It’s okay to have fun at school, but try not to do anything you are going to regret.
Make sure to be yourself and don’t act like someone you are not: Everyone says that you can reinvent yourself in college, and, yes it’s a “starting over” point in your life, but your true color always show. At the start of school, I tried hanging out with the girls who partied literally everyday, and that was SO not me. I know of some people who have opened up more in college than high school, and even changed their name (which to me is a little too far), but for me, I think I just discovered new things about myself that I did not see in high school.
Say yes to everything: Like I said before, your time in college is sooo short, you should take every opportunity that comes your way.
I have thought of some advice to give you especially during these times:
Social distance hangouts: schools are going to be really strict with students “hanging out”, but do not let that discourage you from doing anything at all. You have the right to be able to do something else besides sitting in your room and doing school work, just make sure you are doing it in a safe way.
Go to school if you are given the opportunity to: If your school is open, and you feel safe to, please go to school. Your college experience is too short to be doing classes from home. College’s aren’t going to give you another year to “catch up” on the semester you missed right now.
If you are homesick, go out and get your mind off of it: Being that you are probably a freshman, you will be homesick at some point during the semester since this is probably the first time you are living alone. Going on a walk or getting food with friends is a great way to get your mind off of it!
Be SUPER careful with whatever your party scene looks like now: schools are being super strict about the party scene, and while it’s part of your college experience, you can get in huge trouble if you get caught doing something that breaks the rules. Play it by ear on what your social life will be like.
Try to make friends through freshman welcome week: Each college will have some form of welcome week and that is your chance to meet people. Try to do every activity they have and put yourself out there as much as you can.
Find a friendly face to do activities with: Try to do everything with someone else so you can get to know them and make memories! Workout together, eat meals together, do homework together, hangout in rooms together. It will make your routine more enjoyable!
And, of course, make the most of your college experience. Things will be different, but that does not mean you shouldn’t enjoy the time you have at college!