7 THINGS I WISH I KNEW ABOUT COLLEGE

The shame I feel right now is astounding. It has been over two months since I have posted anything new. When I started Mountains & Mangos, I promised myself that I would see it through to the end. I am still hoping to do that, and that this two month hiatus with just be a blemish on an otherwise seamless blogging-career.

Since the last post, which was about my week in New York City, I have travelled to Costa Rica, started a new job at Hollister, packed up my entire room, moved to the middle of the forest, and started college! Hopefully you can understand the lack of time for writing. In later posts, I definitely want to discuss Costa Rica and the beauty I found there, but for now, I am listing off the 7 Things I Wish I Knew before Moving to College. I started a draft of this after having quite a terrible day. As you can imagine, it turned out quite negative, so I sincerely hope that this attempt will be a brighter spin off of my rocky start to college.

1. 15 credits/semester is enough

I am currently half way through my third week of classes, and let me say, it has not been entirely easy. I have always been the type of person to challenge myself, aiming for the highest grade possible and getting ahead on readings. So when I found out I was only taking 15 credits this semester, the minimum for me to maintain my scholarship, I was ready to pack on more classes. "I am not a minimum student!" I told myself. Well, I sure am glad that my advisor steered me away from adding another three unit class. With the 5 I am currently taking, I am drowning. My sleep schedule is whacked, my organization skills are lacking, and I have cried more than once over my damn French Literature class. Adding anything more to this insane schedule would be over-kill. I am sure that most of my stress also arises from being thrown into a new environment with teachers I do not know and classmates who I am unfamiliar with. So, if you are an over-the-top person like me, do not fret about only having 15 credits. It's the perfect amount for your first semester of freshman year.

2. Making friends is not like in the movies

This is where my last attempt at this post took a turn for the pessimistic. I will try to turn it around. You know in the movies, when the main character has her door open, and someone just wanders in and introduces themselves? And they make instant friends? Yeah, that didn't happen for me. My first week here was exceptionally hard. One of my best friends had already moved to Switzerland, and the other started school in St. Louis. I was used to spending almost everyday with these nerds, and whenever I was bored, I knew I had a place to stay at Matt's. With both of them being gone, and having met no one new but my three roommates, I had no clue what to do with myself.

Before moving up here, I had read many articles about what you should do move-in day to meet your neighbors. I left my door open, I played my music, I waved to everyone, but no one seemed to be interested in being friends with me. It hurt, I wasn't used to this reaction. It was really hard to sit in my dorm room when my roommate was in class and not have anyone to get lunch with. Much has changed already since the first week, and I think I have made a group of friends that has the potential to be great. So I guess I wish I knew that it's okay if you're lonely the first few weeks, because the right group of friends will come along, and, even though you will miss your high school friends (and still call them most nights), new ones will come into your life and all will be restored in the world.

3. Everyone has something to add to the community so never judge someone based on your first impression

I try my hardest to let everyone speak before I make judgements. Even after they do, I want to have a really, genuine conversation. In college, I have learned that one conversation is not enough to be able to write someone off or to make a decision about whether or not they are friend material. I do not typically consider myself a mean or cold person, but after my first week here, I noticed that maybe the reason I wasn't making many friends is because I didn't give anyone the time of day. For example, there is a girl in one of my classes who has a very interesting hobby; collecting vintage weapons. When she first shared this, I remember thinking "wow, stay away from her" I am ashamed to share that I judged her off of one comment, but I did. She and I ended up being paired together for a project, and had to spend some time together. We bonded over our love of dogs, music, and our difficulty making friends up here. It made me realize that I could have already made a good pal in her if I gave her the time of day. Sure, our hobbies differ, but she brings so much to that class and to campus in general. It made me take a step back and realize that everyone does, and, although impossible, I would love to have a genuine conversation with everyone on this campus. All 30,000 of them.

4. There is more to do on the weekends than drink

Sorry grandma and grandpa if you're reading this, but it's time to be honest. For many of us, college is the first time we're living apart from our families. This new-found freedom is exhilarating. You wanna have a dance party with your roommate at 2 in the morning? Go ahead! You want to live off of goldfish and mac and cheese? More power to you! You want to not do laundry for a month? That's kinda gross, but hey, it's your life. College is a great time to discover who you really want to be and all that cliche bull. But sometimes a guiding hand to keep you from doing stupid things is necessary. And man do I wish I had someone like that my first weekend here. Living in the middle of a ponderosa pine forest in Northern Arizona has so many perks, parties in the middle of the forest being one. My first Friday, I was drunk on freedom (and maybe a little beer too), and made some questionable decisions. Coming home that night, I so much wish that I had just gone downtown and explored the art galleries than gotten into a guys truck (at least he was sober) to go to the middle of the forest with a bunch of strangers. Campus life is great, and there is always activities going on. Sure, college wouldn't be college without a little booze now and then, but every weekend? Not necessary. Get involved in clubs and sports and church if it's your thing. Cut loose, but don't get carried away with the new liberty that we are experiencing.

5. Explore the town as often as possible.

This goes along with the last point. For me, the town I moved to is solely a college town. Everything is young and hippie and run by students like me. It's small, but that's the beauty of it. That first weekend, I could have spent my time getting to know my little community and making connections with shop owners and dog walkers and other students just like myself. Being comfortable with the place you're calling home the next four or so years is really important, and definitely something I wish I would have spent my last few weeks doing.

6. Don't forget to call your family

As much fun as you might be having living in a new place, your parents will miss you. I don't even need my mom to tell me that she's a wreck for me to know that she's cried eight times in the last week. For the past 18 or so years, you have been your parents' entire world. Having you there one day and gone the next is a huge change, especially if you're the oldest, like me. You're probably having the time of your life, but take time out of your schedule to give them a call. They'll enjoy hearing from you, and, if you play your cards just right, sometimes you can get some extra sympathy money from them.

7. Read your syllabus

I saved the most important point for last. I can not stress this enough. In high school, we were given a syllabus that we referred to maybe once or twice to learn about the late assignment policy or when our teachers' tutoring hours are. In college, the syllabus is your life. It has deadlines, quiz and test dates, absence policies, and more. And you won't be reminded about those very important dates in class, it is up to you to remember and take care of it yourself. Take it from me, someone who has already missed a quiz due to her inability to add things from the syllabus to her planner. Read it, memorize it, copy dates, and keep it. Learn from me, I beg of you

Jazz Studying

Charlie at Grand Falls

Go LJs!

Weekend Brett came to visit

My favorite photo ever

Study set up

My favorite place to read

Liz and Jazz

Loved having the boys come visit

The points get shorter and shorter as you go on. My motivation is lacking, and the sleep deprivation is setting in. I hope that some of this helped. If not, well.. Don't reread it I guess?? Thanks for reading guys, and I promise to post more often.