Hello, beautiful! Today I am so excited to share a guest post from one of my favorite up-and-coming college bloggers, Ashley of Dear Ash.
Ashley and I have been working together a lot recently; in case you missed the guest post I wrote for her blog, you can check it out by clicking here. She is such a talented blogger and simply an all-around pleasure to work with! But, don't let me tell you how great she is - just scroll down to see for yourself :)
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Hi lovelies! My name is Ashley and I am
the blogger behind Dear Ash. I created this publication to encourage and
inspire women through life, fashion, and beauty. I am currently majoring in
Journalism and Management at Miami University.
Today, I'll be informing you on how to
prepare for what seems like the scariest transition of all: college. If you're
a freshman, you might be falling into anxiety and fear of the future. I don't
blame you. Starting a whole new chapter of your life can be really scary,
especially if you have no idea what to expect.
I am the oldest sibling in my family, so
I was the first to go through the crazy whirlwind that is college. Because I
knew little on how to prepare for this transition, I utilized certain resources
to help me along the way.
This summer doesn't have to be full of
worry. You have great plans ahead of you, and it's time to embrace the
inevitable! So, without further ado, here are a few ways to
prepare for your freshman year of college:
1. Start doing laundry (if you haven't already)
I'll be the first to admit that I had
never done a load of laundry before going to college. I was lucky enough to
have a mother who would voluntarily do my brother and I's for me. But once I
got to college, I had to learn the ropes of this excursion. I did my first load
of laundry over the phone with my mom on the first (and overwhelming) week of
college. This, I do not recommend. Especially for your coolness factor, which I
certainly did not have while everyone around me saw me freaking out on the
phone with my mother over if the pod is supposed to go underneath or on top of
the clothes. If you want to maintain a calm and collected reputation toward
your dorm mates, put some time into laundry practice this summer. By the time
you get to school, you may just be a laundry pro.
2. Brainstorm clubs/organizations to get involved in
My biggest advice to any incoming
freshman is to get involved as much as you can. Chances are, you're interested
in something. By doing prior preparation and brainstorming of different clubs
you want to join, you'll feel much more at ease about the transition. Different
campuses have websites with information on clubs and organizations to join. I
met all my best friends in the first week of school because I kept my eye out
for things I liked and took every opportunity to go and meet people that shared
the same interests. Birds of a feather flock together, so embrace the feathers
you got and meet others who are just like you! You will not regret planning
ahead to ensure community in college.
3. Meet up with your roomie
For some of us, the thought of having a
roommate for the first time is borderline horrifying. By meeting up with your
roomie in person or over FaceTime, you will have the opportunity to learn more
about them and their expectations for your living situation. This way, you're
able to discuss your pet peeves, what time you both get up in the morning,
boys-in-the-room policy, and the color theme of your room (this is a must!). By
discussing these components before move-in day, it’s less likely for things to
get shaky in your dorm room.
4. Embrace time with friends and family
This is the last summer you will be a
full-time member of your hometown, so you have take it all in. Dedicate a lot
of time to friends, because you are sure going to miss your gal pals.
Additionally, even if you don't like the thought of it and all you want to do
is attend off-to-college get togethers, you should spend time with your family.
These people have been your rock all of your life, and they are going to miss
you dearly. And you just might miss them a whole lot too.
5. Inform yourself
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Because I was the oldest sibling and had
no idea what to expect, I had to learn about college on my own. I talked and
received advice from older friends who had been in my shoes before.
Additionally, I read books to inform me on how to make the most of my college
experience and how to make the transition process go smoothly. In this case,
ignorance is certainly not bliss. The key to embracing this change is to know
how it gets hard, and just how you can approach these situations. A book I
loved and annotated all the way through is U Chic:
College Girls' Real Advice for Your First Year (and Beyond!). This book is a collection of other
women's opinions and experiences who have survived and thrived through college.
The topics they discuss vary from homesickness, friends, Greek life, and long
distance relationships. I highly suggest this book because it made me 100x more
confident for the big leap into my future.
6. Gather your gear
Make sure you have everything you need
for the big move. From a comforter to notebooks, to the cute canvases of
inspiration you've been working on, make sure they are organized and ready to
go. I would not suggest procrastinating college packing, because it takes
a long time to get everything together. Ask friends who have been
through college what you need and what you don't need. I just recently wrote
a post on what not to
bring to college that could help you cross some things off your list. Getting
the items together will make you feel less rushed and will allow you to focus
on embracing this exciting season of your life.