Written by Jenna Sampson
Eat well, sleep enough, stay organized, wear shower shoes — these are some of the helpful hints people gave me before I left for my freshman year at college. As much advice as I was given, my first year in college has been one crazy ride. As the year winds down, I started to think about what I’ve learned from the past 287 days. These are a small number of the lessons I’ve learned as a freshman, but they’ll be ones I’ll never forget.
Wal-Mart can be a source of entertainment.
While I was living at home, I never said to my friends, “Hey, I’m bored. Wanna go to Wal-Mart?” Yet since my start as a student here, I’ve said that phrase at least once a week.
A few of my close friends and I actually made a bet as to how many times we would go to Wal-Mart within the first 48 hours of the spring semester. The total number of trips? Four (I wouldn’t dare go that many times during the first 48 hours of pledge week, though!).
I always return with the weirdest things I really don’t need. At one point my cart contained two avocados, a ball of yarn with crocheting needles and noise putty. Sometimes we don’t even come out with anything; we just go and watch people. Sometimes I think that Searcy should have its own category on “People of Wal-Mart.” I think I saw Rob Zombie once.
Talk to your professors.
Back in high school, most of my teachers weren’t really concerned with much more than my test grades or my absence count. There were a few here and there that actually talked with me on a personal level, but here almost everyone on faculty is willing to talk to you about more than the lesson that day. If you’re having an issue that’s affecting your work, go to them. The least they are going to do is offer you some good advice. I have never had a teacher pray with me until I got to HU, and it has been one of the most touching things I have experienced. Don’t assume that just because they are your teachers they can’t be your friends.
Meet people!
I haven’t always been a social person, but at the start of my junior year I decided to branch out and talk to more people. I was pretty well-known and had a good amount of friends. When I arrived on campus, I only knew about 10 people. It was a challenge for me to go from always having someone to hang out with to only knowing a handful of people, but that didn’t last long. I pledged OEGE, joined a few on-campus activities, found a Bible study and just talked to people when I got the chance. Now some of my close friends actually tease me because it takes me at least 15 minutes to sit down in the caf because I’m talking to people.
There is always something to do.
When you have time to put your book down or shut your laptop off, go do something! I’ve heard people talk about how “There’s nothing to do in this town” {and I admit, I’ve said that), but you make your best memories when you make your own fun.
I’ve played ultimate spoons on the entire first floor of the science building. I’ve stood outside of The Underground in freezing weather to play human knot with 15 people. I’ve rented a camera and done a photo-shoot in a cemetery. I had a water gun fight on the front lawn. I frequently visit Waffle House. I’ve had a kite battle between Hello Kitty and Optimus Prime. I’ve made mad dashes to Sonic during happy hour. I’ve even had a light saber duel in the toy aisles of Wal-Mart. Don’t just sit in your room all day, get out and make some new friends and great memories.
Make time to call home.
I was one of those kids that couldn’t wait to leave home. I remember literally counting down the days until I could get out of that town, but about a month in to school, I got a little homesick. I was on Facebook late one night (as most college kids are), saw a picture of my dad and just started tearing up. My younger sister and I didn’t really get close until I was about 16, but I didn’t realize how much she meant to me until I only got to see her once every three months. It makes the time we get to spend together that much more special, but I still make it a priority to call at least twice a week. Paying the long distance fee is worth it.
These are just a few things I’ve learned in the past year. Between all the laughing and crying and crying from laughing, I’ve had some of the best experiences.
I know I have lots left to learn and three more years to go (at least), but I can tell that God is changing me for the better. Life has thrown quite a few curveballs at me since I left home, but with the grace of God and the awesome support system I have, I’ve managed to make it through my freshman year in college.
