I am halfway through this whole college thing; and let me just say, it hasn't been as wonderful as many people make it out to be. However, the past two years have been extremely eye opening as I have learned so much about myself and about life itself, and I'm sure the next two years will be full of plenty more eye opening experiences as well.
As a junior, I just wanted to share a few of the things that I've learned over the past two years for those of you who are about to start college or even return to college this week or in the next few weeks to come.
1. More often than not, movies and tv shows portray college to be one huge party. I'm not a drinker nor a very good dancer, so that whole party scene doesn't really appeal to me. Most of my Friday nights are spent watching Netflix or occasionally going out to eat with a friend.
During my Freshman year, I felt like I was doing college wrong because I wasn't going out to every party and awkwardly dancing with whoever would have to be intoxicated enough to dance with someone with as horrid dance moves as I have. But let me tell you, even though sometimes it's a little lonely, I would much rather be somewhere where I was comfortable than somewhere where I definitely wouldn't be. It's completely okay to stand firm to your beliefs and morals in college and for the rest of your life.
2. Staying up all night isn't worth it. EVERY SINGLE TIME I have pulled an all nighter to finish a paper I put off for weeks or to study for a test that I had known about the whole semester, I have gotten extremely sick for the next week or two, putting me even more behind. I know it's so easy to procrastinate in college, and sometimes pulling an all nighter seems like your only option but You need sleep. Do your best to do what it takes to make sure you're getting a healthy amount of sleep each night, especially the days prior to test weeks.
3. Loneliness is normal. If anyone ever tells you that you'll never be lonely in college because it's the only time in your life that you will be surrounded by hundreds (or thousands) of other people your age, they're lying.
You are going to be lonely. I'm not telling you that it's easy, but it is completely normal. So don't beat yourself up over it or think that something is wrong with you because everyone deals with it, whether or not they want to admit it.
I'll be completely real with you guys...The past two years have been the loneliest years of my life. I don't have a family to go home to after classes or to hang out with on the weekend, which is all I ever knew before college. Sure, I have a roommate (who God really blessed me with) and other wonderful friends who I can spend time with, but sometimes my roommate isn't there and sometimes my friends are busy with other things, so from time to time I'm left confined between four walls all by myself at night or on the weekends; and let me tell you, it's hard. But over the past two years God has taught me so much about loneliness that I know will continue to shape me for the rest of my life (which you can read more about here)
4. Discipleship is so important. During my freshman year I was plugged into a discipleship group with two other freshman that was led by a senior on my campus where I learned the importance of sharing Christ's love with others. Then, during my sophomore year I was blessed with the opportunity to lead my own discipleship group through the Baptist Student Union on campus. However, there are plenty of believers on college campuses who aren't plugged into a christian fellowship organization (though I highly recommend it) so sometimes these "step by step" opportunities do not arise for them. But as a believer, you don't need that! You have been called to make disciples by Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19).
What a better time to make disciples than during your college years? Just think about it for a second... if you gathered with a group of 3-5 other students and taught them about Christ and then equipped them with the tools and knowledge that they need to go and make disciples themselves, your little discipleship group of about four or so students is going to multiply. Hopefully each member of your discipleship group would go their separate way and form their own discipleship group of about four or so students, so right there we are looking at about sixteen other students who are hearing about Christ and learning about how to make even MORE disciples just from what originated in your dorm room or college library. ISN'T THAT INCREDIBLE? God can and will do wonderful things through you and on your campus if you let Him!
As I previously mentioned, I've learned far more than just these four things over the past two years, and I know that the next two years will also be full of many learning experiences. But for the sake of time and your poor little eyes, who I'm sure are tired of reading, I'm going to cut this post here though I may write further on the topic on a later day :)
If you want to share with me about the things you've learned or are learning since you've been in college or even if you have questions about what to expect as a freshman please contact me through the links provided here because I love hearing from you guys!
Have a blessed day!
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