Skip to main content

Battle Tips for Freshman: How Your First Month of College Might Be Like the Zombie Apocalypse

After the initial thrill of leaving home for the first time, meeting your new roommate (who may turn out to be your BFF for the next four years or your mortal enemy), attending your first day of classes and eating in a dining hall that is uncomfortably reminiscent of what you experienced in high school, right down to the cliques, the Heathers and the mound of mash potatoes that look like stage props from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, a certain dazed and confused paralysis may set it. Do not worry: It happens to all college freshman.

After that first blissful week, you might find yourself wandering the college dorms, quads and classrooms like a new millennium zombie, as one foot is still firmly locked somewhere in high school and the other is tentatively shuffling you through the bizarre universe of college life. You might feel as if you are trapped in one of the circles of hell from Dante's Inferno; however, chances are you will not know it yet, as that type of literature class is usually open only to sophomores. Needless to say, do not despair. More importantly, do not call that long distance ex you tearfully said goodbye to at the end of summer, vowing to play the field and find true love because high school relationships are so yesterday.

In order to battle the zombie apocalypse, you need have the right tools and tactics. You need a cache of weaponry that will help you adapt to your new life at college. The apocalypse, which generally begins sometime in the fall, just when the leaves are starting to turn red and yellow and the nights are getting cooler, should never morph into a nuclear winter. By the time Christmas break rolls around, you should have your footing. Here are 3 tips to help you adapt to your new college landscape.

1. Homesickness comes in waves. Sure, escaping from your parents was like a jailbreak from Alcatraz, but you will miss them. You will miss your little sister stealing your clothes. You will miss meeting your friends at your favorite cafe. Once you know that homesickness is part of the college processes, you can accept it and move on. As your favorite guidance counselor might say: This is part of growing up.

2. The social hierarchy of college is a lot like high school, only on a much larger and more complicated level. There are more people, therefore there are more cliques, sub divisions, sub groups, coteries, inner circles, inner sanctums, Goths, jocks, alt girls....you get the idea. Navigating social groups and fitting in can be difficult. However, do not over-emphasis this fact. It takes a while to make friends. It takes even longer to make good friends.

3. In order to combat emotional zombie-ism, enroll in killer classes. While you might feel directionless during those first few months at college, you want to have your A-game when graduate. The current job market is far scarier than having no party to go to on Friday night.

 So what do you think your first week at school will be like?

Comments

  1. I've always thought that being a freshman is one of the most sophisticated and tough periods of student's life.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

So You're Gonna Be A College Athlete: How to Be a Champion On The Field & In The Classroom

Summer is halfway over. Soon, you're going to be starting college for real and playing a college sport for which a coach actually recruited you. Let's assume the sport is baseball. Let's further assume that you haven't been recruited to play at the University of Miami, Stanford, the University of Virginia or the winner of this year's College World Series . You're an above-average player and, according to the slots available and probabilities, you're probably in a NCAA Division III program. (Even if you're in a fairly big time Division I program, you might want to finish reading this article. A significant number of you guys get tired of being bench jockeys and transfer to D III's for playing time and the ability to be a stud player in a small pond.) Status Check - What the NCAA Calls You The NCAA refers to you as a " student athlete " in all its many publications, forms, notifications and rulebooks. The term is never

Adjustable Split King Beds: 2 Twin Extra-Long Size Beds Combined

On the surface, the answer to "What is a split king mattress?" may seem quite simple -- but there are several different types of split king beds to choose from. No matter what your budget or your particular circumstances, there is a split king that will suit you just perfectly. Why Are Split Kings Made?   A split king is made as a solution for comfortable sleeping for a couple. The bed is divided into two sections so that each person has their own customized side of the bed. This would allow for one person to have a firm mattress while the other person has a soft one, or for one person to have an electric blanket while the other one can sleep blissfully in the chilly night air that they prefer. Sometimes a split king is made for people with medical issues so that the person needing specific medical bedding -- like a bed that sits up and reclines automatically for example -- can have it on their own side but not on the side of the person who is not in need

2014 Dorm Room Colors and Decor Fashion Guide

With spring coming to an end and the summer just starting, there are now more college bound freshman than ever that will soon be decorating their dorm rooms! There are tons of trends out there that may or may not be your cup of tea but learning about these trends is a great way to get some ideas about your own décor. The female dorm room is a very unwieldy thing that may or may not end up collecting trends from all around with no cohesive picture. Pastels: Mint and Coral There are a few trends that are beautiful, innovative, and just plain fun. The first trend that is making strides in the college dorm room is of course pastels. Pastels are beautiful and are incredibly easy to match with and can make any room seem instantly more homey. One pastel that is exceedingly popular is mint green. This cool color makes any room seem bigger is easy on the eyes, and is great for just about any larger theme that you may decide to use. Pastels are a great way to make smaller s