Dear Sami,
This year has been crazy. New adventures, new majors, new friends, and new passions. It has been the most crazy year of my life, and I am so excited that you are getting ready to begin your second year of college. Last year, I wrote to you the Things I wish I Had Known Before College post. Here comes year two, with what I have learned my sophomore year of college.
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They aren't your friends if they don't support you
This is something that took me the whole year to understand. Although most of the friends you make in college will be lifelong friendships, not everyone you meet will be. Surround yourself with people that allow you to grow and change. Friends are people who understand that you might make decisions that they won't agree with, and love you anyway.
It's okay to change your major
It really is. Even if you change your major from nursing to education to psychology to education again. Although it may come as a shock to your parents and the people close to you, it's important to make the best choice for your future. This is your year to make the decision that you are most passionate about, as it becomes more complicated to change your major when you become an upperclassmen.
Studying in your dorm doesn't work
The dorm is meant to be an environment where people come and go, loud music is always being played, and your roommate is always watching netflix. There is no motivation when your roommate is nocturnal and always napping. I find it impossible to study anywhere except for the library on campus. Being in environment where (almost) everyone is focused on studying can lead to getting work done a lot faster.
Take online classes
Online classes make college life so much easier. If you are able to take at least one online class a semester, do it. Online classes can be taken at your own pace, as you don't need to make time for the three hours of classroom setting a week. They are also taken during 8-week intervals, so you can concentrate on fewer classes at a time. My spring sophomore semester, I took half of my classes online and it was a great decision.
It really is. Even if you change your major from nursing to education to psychology to education again. Although it may come as a shock to your parents and the people close to you, it's important to make the best choice for your future. This is your year to make the decision that you are most passionate about, as it becomes more complicated to change your major when you become an upperclassmen.
Studying in your dorm doesn't work
The dorm is meant to be an environment where people come and go, loud music is always being played, and your roommate is always watching netflix. There is no motivation when your roommate is nocturnal and always napping. I find it impossible to study anywhere except for the library on campus. Being in environment where (almost) everyone is focused on studying can lead to getting work done a lot faster.
Take online classes
Online classes make college life so much easier. If you are able to take at least one online class a semester, do it. Online classes can be taken at your own pace, as you don't need to make time for the three hours of classroom setting a week. They are also taken during 8-week intervals, so you can concentrate on fewer classes at a time. My spring sophomore semester, I took half of my classes online and it was a great decision.
Take advantage of free everything
Free meals? Free football games? Free kettle corn on finals week? Take advantage of everything that your university has to offer for you before you move off campus and have to pay for everything yourself. Being off campus, I now have to pay for my own gym membership, sport events, and groceries. Being on campus is a fun experience, so enjoy everything it has to offer before you move off.
Free meals? Free football games? Free kettle corn on finals week? Take advantage of everything that your university has to offer for you before you move off campus and have to pay for everything yourself. Being off campus, I now have to pay for my own gym membership, sport events, and groceries. Being on campus is a fun experience, so enjoy everything it has to offer before you move off.
Grades actually matter
Grades are now beginning to matter. Failing biblical worldview isn't okay anymore now that you're going into your higher level classes. Passing the gen-ed courses will give you an easier time with keeping your GPA up when you reach your more demanding major classes. Basically, start monitoring your grades when you become a sophomore so you can succeed later on.
Don't let people borrow things you actually want back
My favorite dress? gone. My 100$ textbook? gone. I definitely learned to only let people borrow things you don't care about being returned. Don't leave yourself stranded with nothing to wear and no books for your test the next morning.
Learn to say yes
My favorite dress? gone. My 100$ textbook? gone. I definitely learned to only let people borrow things you don't care about being returned. Don't leave yourself stranded with nothing to wear and no books for your test the next morning.
Learn to say yes
My first semester, I decided going into the year that I was going to say yes to everything. Yes to football games, yes to cookout at 2 am, and yes to dating people. I got to know many people and I was able to participate in many activities such as going out of town, visiting nearby colleges, and just mainly having fun experiences.
Check your annoying email
I did not realize how important it was to be constantly checking my email until this year. I especially understood this when I hiked through the snow to get to my class, just to arrive to an empty classroom. And when I was up studying all night for an exam in my morning class only to find it canceled the next morning. And missing emails from work that were important about my work schedule... Well, you get the point. I get a ton of emails from my college email every day (and don't even get me started on the alerts for end-of-course surveys). It's annoying, but it's important.
I did not realize how important it was to be constantly checking my email until this year. I especially understood this when I hiked through the snow to get to my class, just to arrive to an empty classroom. And when I was up studying all night for an exam in my morning class only to find it canceled the next morning. And missing emails from work that were important about my work schedule... Well, you get the point. I get a ton of emails from my college email every day (and don't even get me started on the alerts for end-of-course surveys). It's annoying, but it's important.
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