5 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Year in College
Like many of the crew members here at Pochi, I started my journey with the company during my senior year of high school – ready for independence and full of excitement for what college had yet to offer. I figured I was ready for this new chapter in my life – “Bring it on!” I thought, only to be faced with the most challenging few months of my life.
Being a straight-A student in high school, I was under the impression that I knew everything there was to know about starting at a University. “How much different can it be?” I thought to myself, unaware of the harsh reality I was about to be confronted with. Shortly after starting my first quarter at the University of Washington, I realized that my expectations were nothing like what I ended up experiencing.
I guess I didn’t know as much as I thought, and realized that no one had truly prepared me for what college had to bring. I also realized that many other people may not have as much direction when it comes to starting their first year in college either. There are so many things I wish I knew before my first quarter, and these are just a few I thought would be helpful to share:
1) Re-learn how to study!
Now, you may be thinking, “I already know how to study!” and that could possibly be true. But if you’re anything like me, getting good grades in high school was a piece of cake. My study habits weren’t anything crazy, but they did land me some awesome grades and a love for learning. It wasn’t until I was brutally humbled during my first chemistry exam in college when I realized my method of studying wasn’t going to cut it for this rigorous amount of coursework. For me, instead of simply reading assigned chapters and finishing homework, I had to rewire my thinking about what it takes to truly absorb the information I was learning.
In my experience, I’ve found that rewriting notes immediately after lectures, joining a study group, and spending a little time revisiting topics every single day has helped me retain the most information possible and prepared me most efficiently for exams – doing just assigned homework isn’t going to cut it in this environment! Another aspect I’ve learned to incorporate into my new study habits is to teach another person the topics you are currently studying. By going through the subject verbally and using visual cues to help aid your lecturing, the concept of being able to teach another person what you are learning shows the highest level of expertise!
2) Stress is inevitable!
From school work to house work, even the smallest things can stress me out. With the added pressure of new curriculum, new friends, and new environments, stress is absolutely inevitable! During my first quarter at University, I would have to say that my anxiety levels were at an all time high with everything I was trying to balance on my plate. With stress being an inescapable part of the college experience, stress management is extremely important when it comes to your mental health and overall wellness.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in a whirlwind of deadlines and exams, and we often forget to make time in the day to let our minds reset and relax. You know what they say – your health is your wealth! I know there can be a lot to do, but taking even thirty minutes to an hour every day to focus on yourself can make the biggest difference. Whether it be finishing a quick workout, writing in a journal, grabbing boba with friends, or even making time to do absolutely nothing, these small things act as a breath of fresh air when you’re caught up in everything else you have to accomplish. This is also the best way to prevent burnout, which is the result of constant overworking without time for rest (trust me – been there, done that, still doing it).
3) Friends will come and go!
I know, I know – this one is a hard topic to come to terms with. Going from seeing your childhood friends every day for over a decade to suddenly being thrown into a campus of strangers can be entirely overwhelming. When graduating high school, I was under the impression that I would have the people I saw every day in my life forever. As the year progressed, I quickly learned the harsh reality of friends drifting apart and starting new, individual lives. Although it may be uncomfortable, this is a completely natural process when you are surrounded by new environments – people change and so will you! It’s okay to hold these friends fondly in your mind, even if they start drifting away, but just know that the people meant to be in your life will stay/make an appearance when you least expect it!
4) Sleep will be your savior!
One of the most important things I’ve learned when it comes to preserving your health (and your grades) is definitely having a comfortable sleep schedule. When I entered my first finals season, I’ll be the first to admit that all-nighters were a pretty common occurrence in my study routine. This may have seemed like a good idea initially, carving out hours of undisturbed cramming and sacrificing just one night of sleep. I quickly learned that an all-nighter is one of the worst things you can do when trying to prepare for an exam. I was rudely awakened the morning of my exam by my tired eyes and aching mind, barely strong enough to make it to class – let alone take a test! With a combination of a good night's rest, prior preparation throughout the quarter, and of course something caffeinated from Pochi , performance on an exam will be ten times better than the result of a tiring all-night study session.
5) It’s okay not to know!
It’s. Okay. Not. To. Know. It is 100%, absolutely, positively OKAY not to know what you want to do with your life! All throughout my own life, I have felt an extreme pressure to make the decision of what career path I want to pursue and what my future will be like one day. As a result of this, I went into my first quarter thinking I wanted a specific degree and ended up realizing that it was absolutely not the path for me. I grew resentful of myself and disappointed that I couldn’t live up to the expectations that everyone seemingly had for me. It took months for me to realize that confusion and indecision does not equate to failure! I also did not realize how many other people were in the exact same boat I was – questioning their path in college and switching between majors every few months. I also completely understand the pressure of having to choose a major based on the opinions of parents or peers. In the long run, however, your future is what you make of it, and shouldn’t be dictated by what others THINK is right for you – only you can truly make that choice for yourself.