How to Get The College Life

People always say these are the “best four years of your life” or “to live it up”. Basically carpe diem, or for those that like Drake, “YOLO.” However, I know when I got to college there was all this exciting build up to lead the college life and it is kind of a let down because most people don’t know how to submerse themselves into this new and slightly terrifying world. So to help you readjust to this new world. here are just a few brief hints on how to integrate yourself into leading the college life and enjoy it.

Photo by carmichaellibrary via Flickr.com

For starters, get out of your dorm or apartment and look around; get to know your new home. Trying driving down the more popular streets and see what they have to offer in terms of entertainment and dining. For example, here in Tallahassee all you have to do is go a few yards down Tennessee or Monroe Street and there are all kinds of social places like the Tennessee Strip or Potbelly’s. Not to mention downtown street festivals on Friday nights. For those that don’t want to drive around, you can always look up your cities website and see what different sections of your town offer.

Another thing to do is find out if there are any school traditions that the students like to do whether it’s going to happy hour, jumping in the fountain on your birthday, or game day events. These things give you a way to become part of the school and give you that special connection.

As far as meeting new people goes, this will be the easiest yet most challenging aspect of college life. While back home you might have been shy or quiet, but in college you better learn to put yourself out there somehow or life will be miserable. On the other hand, just remember everyone else is either in the same situation as you or has been. On that note try going to your schools involvement fair and see what they have to offer, or you could check out the hundreds of clubs that your school offers online. If getting involved isn’t really your thing, you can always try finding a job somewhere that way you have something to do with your time, you can meet people, and you’re getting paid to do all of this. If these still aren’t your cup of tea, you can always try to rush a sorority or fraternity. With this you can meet all kinds of students who have your same values and ideas while also making life long connections.

Just remember you are in college to get a degree so your education is extremely important. However, you can’t just have all work and no play. You have to enjoy this time and do something with your life besides working and studying or things will get a little boring.