Alrighty, so I have officially finished my first year of college! Woot woot - I am no longer a freshman and it's about dang time. So I figured since I'm all experienced now, I'd do another "what I learned at college" post. Here goes.
Community laundry sucks as much as everyone says. It's expensive, you can never get a washing machine on the weekend, people steal your clothes (like come on, folks), and if you're .2 seconds late getting back to the laundry room, someone dumps all your freshly washed laundry on the nasty floor. I have never appreciated a private laundry room as much as I do now.
You can escape the "Freshman Fifteen". It just requires lots of gym time. It is inevitable that you will eat like crap all through finals, midterms, any exams, roommate dramas, holidays, and basically every day. But as long as you run that off on the 'ole treadmill, your pants should still fit by the end of your first year.
Caffeine will save your life. Energy drinks were just another thing I never appreciated until college. But I tell you what, they'll get you through any last minute paper or homework assignment you're working on at three in the morning. Also they make a great substitute when playing pong. #mormoncollege
You will actually use that math that you learned in high school that you said you'd never use. Algebra, trig, and calculus may seem pointless now, but turns out, they're pretty handy when college comes around. I know I'm not the only one who complained all through high school because the formulas seemed useless, but I had to take back everything I said when those same formulas helped me to determine the yield grade on beef carcasses in class.
Not everyone sticks around. Especially if you go to BYU-I 'cause everyone gets married. But in general, that was something I had to learn pretty quick. You'll make those good friends that'll stay with you through a few semesters (maybe even a few school years), but alot of people you'll lose touch with as soon as class ends. And that's okay - you don't need three-trillion friends to be happy.
Go into the roommate situation with a good attitude. Having roommates is never really ideal, but I know from experience it works out better if you don't go into the semester hating these people you haven't even met yet. Heck, maybe you'll even love the girls! Also, don't judge future roommates by their facebook profiles - it seriously does zero good.
Make sure you study what you love or you won't want to keep studying. I went into my first year as an exercise physiology major, because I knew a career in that field would make good money and I figured I'd enjoy it. However, after taking a livestock reproduction class as an elective, I realized that agriculture was really where my interest was. I put off switching my major until the last week of that first semester, because I didn't want to give up the exercise-phys-major status, but it was the best thing I did all year. Which goes right into...
Don't be ashamed of what you love. This includes your major. You think it was easy telling people for the first few weeks that I'm a beef production major? Heck no. That's gotta be one of the dumbest sounding majors on this planet. But I finally came to terms with the fact that, hey, I love cows - what of it? So whether it's beef production, knitting (*coughAllegracough*), or underwater basket weaving, be proud of that, man.
You really can do it all. I swear, every time I get on Pinterest I see that little pie chart that says, "College Life: social life, good grades, enough sleep - pick two". Psh, little Pinterest pie chart, you're a liar. It doesn't take Superman to do it all - you can do it too. I did and I'm not even that organized. You just have to realize that occasionally you'll make some sacrifices. Like a couple hours of sleep in exchange for night out with your favorite people. Or a weekend of studying for a test instead of that party. There will be another one next weekend anyway. But yeah - don't listen to the pie chart - time management isn't rocket science.
Document everything! Pictures, journaling, blogging, instagram, whatever the heck it takes. Memories are great, but you need something substantial to keep them around. Plus it's great to look back on. So take lots of pictures and write down the big things. #butfirstlemmetakeaselfie
Learn how to cook. Do this before you leave home. Or else you will be eating alot of Chinese take-out and instant potatoes. Every. Night.
Remember who you are. If your teenage years were anything like mine, your father yelled this out the door to you as you left the house each weekend. Let's be real - it got annoying and you mostly just laughed it off. Then you go to college and suddenly you're on your own, without anyone to remind you anymore. Sure, your college years are a great time to discover what you really like and what kind of a person you'll really end up being. I know I learned alot about myself my freshman year, as cheesy as that sounds. I learned that I enjoy washing dishes, I have a knack for writing essays (I'm the master of BS), I fall in love at least once a week, and I have an incredible aversion to bacon. But the most basic things about me never changed and it was something I probably could have been reminded of a few times throughout my first year. You're not going to impress everyone, so don't bother trying. Just stay you and the whole thing works out.
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Figured I'd throw in a few pictures from this last week back in the great state of Alaska. I've done my best to keep busy and out of too much trouble.
I missed this little chubster. Can't believe he'll be six in just over a week. Cray.
Got in the first horseback ride of the year! This gal put up quite the fight, but as always, I won. My shoulders, thighs, calves, and basically everything were feelin' it the next day though.
Went down to the riverbed. I forgot just how beautiful Alaska really is. Those mountains! Gosh dang.
Took a 24 mile walk with mom on Friday. I'll be honest, my feet were killing me. But this view though.
Spent the weekend with the little sister - making no bakes, caramel popcorn, and watching movies. It's good to be back! (But I do miss Rexburg a little.)
Peace out amigos - stay classy.
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