7 College Freshman Life Lessons I’d Tell Myself Looking Back

School is back in session! For many, it’s an exciting time of heading back out on our own, seeing our friends, and getting back into the fun of social life and extracurriculars. But for freshman, the excitement can come with a lot of nerves, too. How do you know what to expect? That’s where a few college freshman life lessons could help.

Every college and university is different, let me start by saying that. Everyone’s experiences in college and university are different too. Some have sororities and fraternities. Some have more urban spaces rather than the traditional campus feel. Your experience is going to be different than mine was, and is going to be different than the person next to you (even your roommates!).

Lessons I Learned Through Life as a College Freshman

College and university can be what you make of it. As someone who has been there, done that, let me help you. Here are some life lessons I’d go back and tell my college freshman self. They’re things I regret not doing (or not doing enough of), reassurances for nerves, and more.

1) Your Freshman Year Friends will Become Your Forever Friends

I am not exaggerating when I say that those friends I made week one, month one, year one at college are still my friends today. They were the friends I kept all throughout college – the ones I went out with on weekends, the ones I studied with, the ones I’d try to get together with in the summer.

To this day I still speak to many of them. I know this isn’t always the case – and I know you always hear stories about how freshman year friends aren’t going to be long-term. However, I want to tell you that it does happen! Choose your friends wisely, and I’m not saying that to scare you.

2) A Crucial College Freshman Life Lesson: Look into Study Abroad

My biggest regret from college was not studying abroad. I had the mindset that I really enjoyed my school and I could just travel to said place eventually. Let me tell you – I missed out. I have friends who studied abroad and getting to immerse themselves into a different country is very different than just going to visit a place for a week.

My school even had a month long opportunity rather than a full semester; I definitely should have looked into that. If you are able to study abroad, seriously consider it; you don’t want it to become a regret like it did for me!

3) You are Going to be Fine Living Away

I was (and still am) very close with my family. Of course my worry was about moving away and living on my own. But, I did it, and I loved it! I will admit that I went home at least once a month because my family always had something going on that I didn’t want to miss out on.

But getting the experience to live on my own, really set me up well for my post-grad life. I already had the experience of doing laundry, cooking for myself, and frankly, figuring things out on my own. It can be scary, but you will figure it out. We just have a tendency to not give ourselves enough credit!

Additionally, along the same note, I wish I had taken advantage of breaks and traveled more, too. I did do Spring Break my senior year and one year during my master’s, but I wish I had done it earlier! Now that I am a full-time employee, there is no Spring Break. Why didn’t I take advantage of it when I had it?!

4) Using Facebook to Find a Roommate is a Genius College Freshman Life Lesson

That’s right – I used Facebook to find my roommate rather than relying on the school. I joined a Facebook group that was filled with incoming freshman at my school. This group was where everyone was “getting to know each other” virtually.

One girl and I started chatting and realized we had a lot in common. So, we decided to request each other as roommates. It was the best – we already kinda “knew” each other going into it, knew we had similar likes, interests, and values, and made the transition easier.

We ended up being roommates all four years because it worked out that well! I will note that if you have a random roommate, I know several success stories, so don’t worry too much.

5) Your RA is Just a College Student Too

I remember becoming a college freshman and thinking my RA would be this strict authority figure. Sure, they had to lay down some sort of rules and regulations, but looking back on it, they were just college students too wanting to have fun.

Once my friends started becoming RAs to take advantage of the free housing, I realized how my RAs (for the most part) were just like me; trying to enjoy college, make friends, get good grades. They weren’t someone to be scared of; instead they were someone to go to even to hear their own life lessons.

6) Take Advantage of Internships

I will admit that I didn’t take my internships in college as serious as I should. I found a place I liked to intern in a field I was sure I wanted to go into. And, I liked it so much I ended up interning there for two years.

But, in retrospect, I should have used the time as an intern to “play the field” and be exposed to different types of work. Instead of just interning at a nonprofit – which is the field I went to work after college – I wish I had also interned in a corporate setting.

Instead, I spent my post-college life thinking corporate life was the worst. The joke is on me, because I ended up in corporate, and I loved it! If I had interned in a corporate office from the get-go, I would have known this, and probably ended up there post college.

7) It’s Going to be the Best Time of Your Life

I fondly look back at my four years in college. Sure, not all of it was easy – there were several all-nighters pulled! – but I had the best time, made the best memories, and would do anything to go back and relive it for a day!

Keep that in mind while you’re there, especially when things get stressful. You are going to look back on this time one day, and wish you could go back. Have fun, make smart decisions, and enjoy!

Final Thoughts on My College Freshman Life Lessons

Although each college freshman experiences that first year differently, there are some very common threads. I hope if you are about to start at university you will find these life lessons helpful. Not to necessarily follow with fervor but instead as a perspective to enlighten your choices along the way.

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