If you are anything like me before freshman year, you’re watching college vlogs and advice videos on youtube and trying to figure out the color scheme for your dorm. The summer before your first year can be so exciting and nerve racking at the same time so I wanted to give you all five pieces of advice before you embark on this new phase in your life.

I’d like to start off with a mantra to live by: College is an exploratory time in your life. Everything that I am about to tell you all goes back to this simple mantra so if there’s one thing I want you to take away from this post, it is that.

1. Things may not go as planned and that is ok. Don’t think that you can’t do everything you planned and more because it is very possible. However, life has a way of steering you in another direction whether it is changing your major or career goal, picking up a new hobby or even meeting a close friend standing in the line at Au Bon Pain (great restaurant btw, HIGHLY recommend checking it out on campus). The best thing you can do is embrace this new unexpected life and understand that everything happens for a reason. When I came into college, I thought I’d get all A’s my first semester, become best friends with my quad mates and I’d make the TU pom squad. None of that happened and honestly, I was devastated. I felt like I had failed myself and I considered commuting because college just wasn’t going as planned. Now as a rising junior, I look back at that time and realize that I would be so different than I currently am if that vision of my freshman year was my reality. It led me to join greek life where I made some of my closest friends, work harder in my classes to achieve my goals and join a dance group with over sixty girls which was a fun and interesting experience.
2. Use your free time wisely. Maybe in high school, you had a few AP or honors classes, sports, clubs, honors societies and work which took up all of your time. In college, you have more free time and freedom than you’ve ever had. Unless you find ways to fill up your time, your only obligation is school. This is your time to truly explore new hobbies, people, organizations and most importantly yourself. Going back to that mantra, explore what Towson has to offer. Don’t just stay in your dorm all alone, unless it is another corona situation. If you truly want to make the most of the college experience, you have to put yourself out there and seek new opportunities. At the same time, don’t forget that you have to study outside of class and you can finish homework early if you have the time. Try to make a schedule for yourself so that you get everything done and still have time to enjoy yourself. I would recommend getting a planner and a big calendar to hang up in your dorm so that you can keep track of all of your activities and school work.
3. Time will go by so quickly, cherish every moment. In the grand scheme of things, college is a very short time in your life. Just like high school felt like it flew by, college will feel the same way. Truly savor every moment, the good, the bad and the ugly. You probably won’t have another time in your life where you can walk to all your friends’ dorms/apartments, your food is always made for you and you can have spontaneous nights and adventures. These are the memories that you will be looking back on once you graduate and maybe even tell your kids about. I still remember my first few days of freshman year like it was yesterday and it is crazy to think half of my time in college is already behind me. So as you are enjoying your freshman year, remember that you can’t get this time back. Enjoy it all while you can.
4. Don’t forget your friends and family back home! You may have days where you are a little homesick or just tired of school in general. Calling your high school friends who may be going through a similar college experience as you or your family can be very comforting. Not to mention, they miss you too. The first semester of college can be tough so knowing that you have a support system back home can help you get through this time. You will also be around tons of new people which can be overwhelming and at first, they don’t know you. Your friends and family will be there for you to remind you of who you are and push you to do things so that you can grow into the person that you are meant to be. I called my high school best friend and my mom so much throughout the first few months and they helped me put my life into perspective. As you are exploring Towson, remember to keep those who have been there for you prior to college up to date on your experiences.
5. YOU ARE IN COLLEGE FOR A DEGREE! This may seem very obvious now but it is so easy to let your grades drop because you are involved in other things on campus. Do not forget why you are going to college though, that degree will be worth the struggle. I remember multiple people telling me “Don’t skip classes” and I laughed because I couldn’t fathom why someone would pay so much money and not attend class. And then I actually got to college and realized that it is actually VERY easy not to go to class. Some professors don’t take attendance so you might not see the point in going. You may tell yourself “I can teach myself the material” or “I can get the notes from my friend” which may be true. But once you start skipping classes, it will become a habit. You need to keep yourself accountable and remind yourself that you are in college pursuing a career. Also take advantage of the opportunities that may help you get an internship, a job or a mentor in the career field that you are seeking to work in. TU holds a lot of job fairs that are looking for college students to intern or work for them. The Honors College has a mentor database with Towson alum in multiple professions who would be willing to help guide you in college and beyond. The bottom line is, remember why you are in college.

Hopefully, you found these tips helpful before you begin your college experience. I wish you all the best first year and feel free to contact me for more advice/comments/questions at prodge2@students.towson.edu!

Paris Rodgers ’22 is a TU Biology Major with a Concentration in Functional Biology of Animals and a Public Health Minor. You can read more about her on the Current Student Bio page.