Going out of your comfort zone and finding yourself in an entirely new environment is never easy. This is why you’ll find tons of articles and books that are all dedicated to providing tips and tricks on how to make your transition from high school to college a lot easier. While there are no fool-proof, clear-cut approaches to surviving freshman year, there are tons of simple tips you can follow that will increase the chances of making college freshman year a lot easier for you. Below are examples of often overlooked yet highly effective tips on surviving your first year in college.
Make a conscious effort to talk to people
If you’re the introverted type, you have to force yourself out of your self-made shell and go out of your way to strike up conversations with classmates and dormmates. If you feel intimidated and shy, here’s what you should keep in mind: all the other freshmen feel just as shy and awkward being in a new environment as you do. Don’t worry about them snubbing you, they might even be thankful that you made the first move to talk to them because they’re too shy to do the same.
Know when and where to ask for help
There will be times when you would just want to pack your bags and head back home. The stress of school work and maintaining personal relationships with friends and schoolmates can sometimes reach great heights such that you feel emotionally and mentally exhausted. Excellence in studies should not be achieved at the expense of your mental, physical, and emotional state. Take breaks when you feel the need to, and don’t hesitate to visit the student counselling office if you feel you need help.
Manage your finances and don’t spend on unnecessary things
Tempting though it may be, blowing your allowance on beer nights with the guys or shopping trips with the girls will only cause dents in your wallet. Remember you’re living on your own now, and you should take it as a challenge to show your parents that you deserve the independence you’ve been given.
Photo Credit : micdsphotos
