After being surrounded by graduation festivities to mark the end of the spring semester, my friends and I have reflected on our journey together as Clemson University students thus far. All of our experiences, good and bad, began our freshman year, which made me ponder what I would tell my freshman self if I could go back to before my very first semester began.
The nervousness and insecurities you are feeling before the start of your first semester are completely normal. As my first year of college approached, I was absolutely terrified. I had never made a move as big as starting a new life of my own in an entirely unfamiliar place. However, there is no better way to familiarize yourself with an undiscovered chapter than simply letting go and becoming fully immersed in the trials and errors.
The biggest hurdle to overcome is trying too hard to find friends. It may seem like a good idea to stick by the very first people you meet, but trust me when I say you’ll only remember a few of their names in the end. It sounds scarier than it is, but you have to be brave and branch out.
Putting yourself in an environment that you actually want to be in is where you will discover like-minded people who will undoubtedly lead to everlasting friendships. Join the clubs that center around that niche interest you’ve always wanted to explore more deeply, or apply for on-campus jobs at places that may relate to your degree and future career path.
Not only will finding a job, internship or club on campus early in your college career put you ahead professionally, it will also assist you in establishing networking roots that can bloom into friendships.
I highly recommend attending Tiger Prowl before classes start to further explore those niche interests that are sure to have their very own club. Keep an eye out for an email regarding the dates of the club showcase, and you’ll be able to take a walk through Memorial Stadium and seek out organizations that align with your interests.
Don’t be scared to go to this event by yourself either; I promise you will meet plenty of people at your chosen tables. If you don’t want to go alone, you could even knock on your dorm neighbor’s door and ask them to go with you. You never know, that could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
After making sure my freshman self knows exactly how to put herself out there, I would emphasize taking as many general education classes as possible that first semester, considering I would end up rearranging my major and minor pathways twice. It would be helpful if I didn’t have all these extra credits lying around that no longer satisfy my major.
Unless you don’t harbor a single doubt about your career choice, it might be best to try the undeclared route for a while, until you can grow more as a person and understand what you truly want from your professional life.
Lastly, I would want my freshman self to close her eyes more often, feel the Clemson breeze and move her hair around while the sun warms her face. I would open my eyes and look around, soaking in the orange-brown brick architecture, the shimmer of the Reflection Pond and the chatter of my fellow students, pausing before the busiest four years of my life began. You only get to do this once, and you should be present for every single minute of it.
