This article ran in the 2007 Beginnings Issue.
You have no idea what in the hell you'll be doing in four years.
There might an idea in your head, but it will change. No worries. This theory holds true for most of college, so expect your conventional wisdom to be challenged.
Allow me to debunk a few other myths or questions for your reading pleasure - or until the boring lecture in front of you ceases to exist.
Double check everything you're told - starting 10 minutes ago.
Go ahead: Refuse the 8 a.m. class if you don't want it. It's your schedule, after all. While the advisers are good people, they aren't the ones living with your schedule come August.
The simple exchange "What's up," will take on new meaning. Naturally, you won't immediately know everyone on your residence hall floor, but by the end of October you'll be saying "Hey" to everyone. Come the end of the semester, you'll still be saying it people, but there will undoubtedly be that one person whose answer you didn't really care to hear. Take the high road and at least play the courteous card. If you were the ass in high school, learn now that such a character doesn't make it far in this environment.
Listen to what you want. You might dance to Akon or Fall Out Boy - it doesn't matter. Around here, everyone follows their own groove. It is to your advantage to become comfortable with your individuality sooner than later.
Not to worry if you're still trying to find your individuality, it's likely to change. You've probably got a good grip on whom you are now, and that's excellent. Don't let upperclassmen or faculty downplay your high school accomplishment. You're no longer prom queen or the all-star quarterback, but that doesn't mean those achievements haven't defined who you are. Be confident and strong, but don't become cocky and arrogant. This is a fine line to walk, but midway through college you'll find the people who walk it well are the ones who are moving to the front of your class.
Oh, yeah - class. Learn your attendance policy. Save your syllabus. Meet with at least one of your professors during office hours - it will help beyond your GPA.
Then there are those so-called "negative influences" working against that GPA, such as friends, bad weather and partying.
If you want to drink, you'll find a way. Stop asking and don't worry because if you want alcohol that bad, you will find it soon enough.
That goes for sex, too.
On a completely unrelated note, the showers in the residence halls are not as awkward as you'd expect. It's not gym class, nor is it the high school baseball team locker room. Mind your business, and everyone else will mind theirs.
Guys, you're likely to see members of the opposite sex in your bathroom at seemingly random points throughout the year. If you're attentive, you'll notice these times are mostly Saturday and Sunday mornings. I'll let you figure out the correlation.
Yes - the high school friendships continue. Relationships, on the other hand, rarely survive under the pressure of new environments and long distances. Don't worry about dealing with this until you're ready, but come August be prepared to a see world the likes of which you have not seen and can't possibly imagine.
Value your friends from your freshman year more than any other clique you find yourself in throughout college. Your fondest memories will include those people who felt as awkward as you did when first stepping on campus. Sure, semesters end, people move out of residence halls and communication falters, but it doesn't matter. At least four years later, those freshman year friends will be the same ones drinking at the bar with you on the eve of your commencement.
Be forewarned, though: Not every one of those friends will make it to graduation day. Some lose work ethic, some might transfer and, yes, even the unthinkable happens. Inevitably, you will continue making Ball State-based friendships until your last day on campus, and even beyond. Contrary to what MySpace and Facebook have taught us, it's not about quantity - it's about the quality of the friendships you make. Strengthen your network of friends this year and you'll have a wall to lean on for the rest of your life.
But hey, the rest of your life is a long time from now - so don't fret too much.
After all, you still don't know what you'll be doing in four years.
Dave Studinski is a 2007 graduate and former editor in chief of the Daily News.
Write to Dave at heydave@bewilderedsociety.com.
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