When I graduated high school I was convinced that I was done with schooling, I wasn’t a bad student; I just wasn’t a big fan of studying. I went to work and after 6 months of working an over 40-hour work week and no chance of ever being promoted I had gained the confidence and motivation to enroll for college and I quickly decided that WOU was the place for me. Now that you know that about me, let’s talk about what I wish I knew when I first started, college student to prospective college student.

College is much different from high school

I had heard it all the time, my teachers in high school, my parents, my grandparents, everyone told me that college is a lot different, but since I didn’t have a frame of reference I can’t really say that I believed them. College is a place where you can be yourself, you have the chance to share your thoughts and ideas, now more than ever before. You pick the classes you want to take, you decide your schedule, everything is up to you for your choosing.

It’s important to have time for yourself

When I first got to college I was running head first into education, I spent my weekends with my nose in the books and didn’t spend any time trying to join in on anything or make any friends. While making sure you get all your work done and keep up on your studies is meaningful, it’s also essential to have time with friends, and also for yourself. Find something you enjoy doing and take time weekly to do it and along the way you can find people that like the same things. Me personally, I like movies and I make time to watch them, I also set money aside so that every month I can go to the cinemas at least once.

Learn to budget

Being on your own for the first time, there are a lot of things to learn. One of the most important things to learn is how to create a budget. From books to food to recreation, it’s important to balance how much you have, and how much you spend. Whether you collect receipts or just keep an eye on your bank account, it’s an important skill to have. It’s important to budget not only your money, but also your time. Set time aside for studying, breaks, and most importantly sleep.

Your professors are there to help you

Professors have office hours to go over anything you need help with, in or outside of class. I’ve talked to my professors about everything from an assignment that I didn’t quite know how to answer to the struggles of not having my morning coffee. They’re there to listen and even though they’re your professor, they can also be a great colleague and friend.

You’ll learn many things, but mostly about yourself

I thought I knew the kind of person that I was in high school, but now that I look back on it, I had no clue. For many, college is the first time that you’re on your own. Nobody can take away the experiences you make while in college, the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” doesn’t seem so far away anymore, and while growing up can be frightening, it’s also quite exciting. The books you read and the music you listen to will most likely change, and that’s completely normal, you’re just becoming the newer you.

The greatest thing about college is that it’s exactly what you make it. You can be as active as you want to be, and you can find and be the true you and as a great man once said “There is no one alive who is youer than you.”