A Guide to Surviving Freshman Year
Story by Katelyn Fryzek
Katelyn Fryzek, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student
As I walked down the hallway to my dorm room a year ago, fear and worry consumed me. Fear of not making any friends. Fear of my classes being too hard. Fear of living on my own and missing my parents. Change can be scary, and going to college is a huge change. However, this fear is a shared experience felt by many incoming freshmen, and along with fear, there is excitement and wonderful new experiences.
“I was really nervous when I moved onto campus because I was worried about making friends and breaking out of my shell,” sophomore University of Nebraska-Lincoln student Keagan Dorsey said.
While going through this new period of life, here are some tips to make the most of your college experience.
Social Life
One of my biggest fears was making new friends and maintaining a healthy social life. Something I did, along with many others, was get involved. From Greek life to both fun and academic clubs, colleges provide so many opportunities to become involved on campus and meet new people.
One thing sophomore UNL student Paige Sailer said she utilized was campus events. Different student organizations will host free events to attend, including a club fair to see what options there are to get involved. Along with campus events, many dorms will host floor hangouts, which is a great way to meet the other students living on the same floor as you.
By attending events and trying new things, sometimes saying “yes” to something could be one of the best decisions you make in college.
“Challenge yourself to try new things always, even if sometimes you are scared to try,” Dorsey said.
Sophomore UNL student Elly Cheatle said she made the most of her freshman year by meeting everyone she could and reaching out first.
“Walk the hallways and knock on doors, talk to people on the way to class, greet people in the dining halls,” Cheatle said. “Every single person on your floor is also new to campus and is also looking for new friends.”
Ultimately, while meeting new people and trying new things, sophomore UNL student Chloe Charbonneau said it is important to be yourself.
“You have to embrace the cringe. It’s so difficult to switch your perspective from high school to a college mindset, but people genuinely don’t care what you do,” Charbonneau said. “As long as you’re being authentic, you will find people who love that version of you, and once you have those friends and you are being true to yourself, you won’t care about how other people perceive you.”
Academics
When it comes to staying on top of your academics, one of the biggest struggles is staying organized. To help with this, both Dorsey and Charbonneau said having a planner was a game-changer. Charbonneau said she often found herself forgetting things, but writing them down helped her to stay on top of her assignments.
Another struggle is the motivation to get assignments done. Sailer found a few tricks to help her succeed.
First of all, she created a set schedule and blocked off time where she would focus on her assignments. She also found that getting out of her dorm and going to either a coffee shop or library helped her to focus. Another thing she did was use the reward system. After finishing an assignment, she would reward herself with a small treat, motivating her to get things done. Finally, she said it is important to set realistic goals that allow her to focus on one thing and avoid being overwhelmed.
While it is important to stay on top of your academics, it is also important to take time for yourself. Sometimes, this is exactly what you need when you feel stuck on something.
“I started to do things that I enjoyed, like playing volleyball, going for walks, and listening to music, to start putting myself first and to start regulating my worries and concerns,” Dorsey said.
Overall, when classes get hard, there are so many resources to help you, including tutors and office hours.
“Most professors want to give students clarification about things; they want to have students who actively participate,” Charbonneau said.
Dorm Room Essentials
Moving into a dorm, you oftentimes don’t entirely know what items are needed to provide you with the best experience so here are a few that college students deemed necessary.
The first items are a fan and an air purifier.
“The dorms can be finicky about temperature or air quality, so having these things helps you feel better,” Charbonneau said.
Cheatle also said having an air purifier helped her not get sick all semester, even when her roommates were sick. Another essential item that was mentioned is a thick blanket.
“My blanket kept me warm during the winter months, especially when my window wouldn’t close all the way,” Cheatle said.
Closing Thoughts
As I emptied out my dorm room and drove home for the summer, I no longer felt the fear I did at the beginning of the year. In its place was fulfillment, excitement for the future, and even a feeling of sentiment that my freshman year was over. By using some of these tips, I was able to make my freshman year one of the best years of my life.
“Go outside of your comfort zone. That’s how you make memories that last a lifetime,” Cheatle said.