With both the sudden arrival of September and my senior year gaining momentum, I find myself revisiting random moments of nostalgia. It feels like only a week ago when I was dragging my compartmentalized belongings up Broward’s four flights of stairs, attempting to recall the symptoms of a heatstroke, and quickly discovering that I had been standing in a red ant pile while unpacking the car. The memory gets even sweeter when my outfit comes to mind: school uniform-esque khaki shorts and an awkwardly starchy top. The icing on the awkward cake, however, is that my dad filmed every home movie unworthy moment (a predictable move, totally unworthy of my surprise and protests). Three years later, I can confidently say that I’ve come a long way since freshman move-in day. The pre-mature business casual wardrobe has long been abandoned along with nearly every expectation that I came to college with.
There aren’t many things that I would change about my past three years at UF, but I can’t deny the truth of hindsight being 20/20. I’m by no means suggesting a dramatic change in the course of history, so let me ask you this: if you could offer your freshman self a few words of advice, would you? Consider it a chance to casually sidestep those avoidable and classic college moments (no need for details here, there’s far too many and you know exactly what I’m talking about). You could also deliver the much needed and no bullshit guidance that is collectively lacking during our undergraduate years. It’s tempting… very tempting. As the thought of my Pepto Bismol Lily dress continues to sear my brain and haunt my memories I whole heartedly answer yes, I would. Here are four things I would tell my freshman self:
1.) Explore your new home sooner rather than later.
Gainesville will be your home for the next four years, so you should treat it as such. Become familiar with everything this little gem of a college town has to offer. Run through the University Gardens, go ham on a hungover brunch at Civilization, catch a dubstep violinist show at the High Dive, and stalk Karma Cream’s bakery so you can score a legendary cookie dough cupcake before they’re gone. Don’t leave room for a dull moment and make the effort to discover a new piece of Gainesville every weekend.
2.) I’m begging you, please don’t buy that scooter.
While studying for your Wildlife Issues final (a joke in itself), you’ll discover that a friend of a friend is selling their scooter. You’ll be told that it’s just a “few” years old with “not that many” miles on it, and it’s “only” $450. Because you won’t think twice to ask the questions that matter (and barely test drive it) the next three years will be plagued with dad’s business lectures, five new transmission belts, and eardrum piercing brakes. Being a car-less and permanent passenger blows, I totally get it, but that doesn’t justify an impulsive and uneducated purchase.
3.) Treat college as an opportunity, not an obligation.
When the novelty of your acceptance letter begins to fade and going to college becomes a reality, classes will eventually manifest themselves as a chore. You’ll lose sight of what higher education actually is, an opportunity. Reacquaint yourself with your strengths, choose classes that peak your interest, and stick with that exploratory major for at least a full semester. There’s an overwhelming pressure to decide what you want to be once you graduate and that’s an absurd expectation for an eighteen year old. Finding the “right” job is a myth, so feed your passions and everything will fall into place.
4.) Failure is your friend, welcome it with open arms.
In staying true to cliche form I’ve saved the best piece of advice for last. All I ask is that you don’t take it personally and to remember that I say this with love. Okay, here it is…
GET OVER YOURSELF.
For real, it’s that simple. Get over yourself. The thought of failure, or the unknown, won’t get you anywhere. It’s time to let go. Learn to trust yourself, to speak up, and to take some damn risks. Failure does not, and will not, define who you are. With that being said, I urge you to throw yourself on the ledge and go to a place of discomfort; it’s the only way to live a full and honest life.
For all of my freshmen and senior readers (and everyone in between) I hope that some of my past-its-prime advice holds relevancy in your life. You’re only here for four years (plus one or two more), so I challenge you to get out there and do something. Prove yourself; create yourself; and above all else, be yourself.
Photo courtesy of: YogaDragonDen
