Five Things I Learned in My First Semester of College

This semester was my first full-time semester in college. It's a little surreal that it's finally over, and that I survived. Over these last couple of days, I've been thinking about what this semester has taught me and how I've grown.

1. Listen to your mother.
My mom is one of the smartest people I know. And, as I knew before, she knows what she's talking about. Instead of listening and taking an easier math class, I took calculus, when I didn't need it for my degree, and it consumed a lot of my time. She's been right about other things, too, like how long it'll take me to study for certain subjects, or when the best time would be to go home, or when I need to finish assignments. In short: Your mother is always right.

2. Expect the unexpected.
Expect your printer to break down the night before your big research paper is due (which happened). Expect your professor to give a pop quiz on that chapter you haven't reviewed yet (also happened). Expect not to have any way to do laundry this weekend. Expect it to be thirty degrees the day you're supposed to run two miles. Expect everything, no matter how impossible it seems. Always be prepared, no matter what, and you'll be better off in the long run. Even if your professor doesn't have a surprise quiz on neurons, you'll be better prepared for the test in a week.

3. Study more than you think you need to.
This goes back to some words of wisdom from my mom: Study three hours for every hour the class meets. That means if you're in a class that meets three times a week for an hour each class period, study nine hours. Now, in my opinion, this works better if you break it up. Study for an hour right after the class, then an hour that night, and another hour the next day. Then repeat after the next class meeting. Repetition is the key to learning. Plus, this'll help for those pop quizzes I mentioned.

4. Sleep.
So many times have I slipped into bed at two in the morning, completely exhausted after studying my butt off for my big biology exam at 8:50. Studies say that the average person needs seven to eight hours of sleep. That doesn't include the seven to fifteen minutes it takes you to actually fall asleep. So make sure you account for your required sleep. You'll perform better, retain more information, and stay healthier. Plus, you'll be doing your roommate a favor if the lights are out by midnight.

5. Be social.
Don't be such a bookworm that you neglect your friends. The people you meet in college may very well be the friends you carry with you until the day you die. Nurture these friendships. Spend an hour talking about nothing in particular. Go to a movie. Get to know that girl halfway down the hall who you never talk to. This is something I really wish I'd done with more than just a couple of people who I knew before I even came to college. Broaden your horizons. Get to know someone from someplace far away (and I'm not talking about from the next town over). You never know what you may learn.

So there you have it. If I could have a do-over, those are the things I'd fix. Best of wishes to those heading to college for the spring semester, or starting in the fall.