I have wanted to upload this blog post for a few weeks now but I thought with the Leaving Certificate results (yes, the dreaded results) approaching on Wednesday, now is the perfect time.

I say that because if you are reading this and heading to college in September, your life is about to change, a lot. So things are going to get crazy and as you’re heading into the next chapter of your life, it can be helpful to hear some tips and lessons and although you may already know them, it can be reassuring to hear them from someone else.

This blog post applies to not just anyone heading into college for the first time, but to anyone who has already been through first year and can relate, I am heading into second year and these still apply to me! Also to anyone who is taking a gap year, repeating or just working full time.

These things you are about to read are lessons learnt from not just myself, but from observing the people around me and how their situations panned out.

I hope you enjoy what I have to say and hopefully it has some use to you!

 

1) Change

This point applies to anyone who doesn’t adapt well to change, or not necessarily adapt well to it but just doesn’t really like change.

Me, I hate change. I absolutely bawled my eyes out crying the night before I moved to Dublin although I was about to begin one of the best academic years of my life. Moving out of home for the first time can be quite daunting so just understand that change is about to happen, you are going to be expected to be a lot more independent so just to take a step back; go for a walk, have a cry or relax yourself any way you know how before you enter the big bad world.

 

2) Relationships

This is a long point because it can relate to a lot of people in various situations.

This point is in relation to any friendship or relationship you may have with your best friend, family member you’re close to or a relationship with a significant other.

All throughout college but especially at the beginning (first few weeks), everything happens quite swiftly; therefore you are going to be captivated in the new people you’re meeting for the first time and the new lifestyle college is going to offer.

So if you are a person who has a connection in any way with someone who is beginning college, do not be offended if you feel they aren’t making enough effort or talking to you as much as they usually would, honestly they are just getting caught up with everything that is happening around them. This can apply to people who are a fellow new college student, a student still in Secondary school, a current college student or someone not in college at all.

Trust me, if a relationship or friendship is really meant to work, it will.  Love, Trust and Understanding your person are some qualities that are going to play a very big part.

I am not saying you don’t have a right to be insecure or worried that they might forget about you, but if they love you they will stick by that and you trusting them vice versa can really stand by your relationship and make it if not stronger.

This can also apply big time in the relationship scene, there is no rule to say you have to be single for college, so if you are in a relationship and you feel college may have tampered with that, maybe the relationship isn’t meant to be but understand because you are meeting a lot of new people and heading to new places it can make people question what and who they want in their life.

All I am saying is give it a few weeks for the said new incoming student to settle before assuming they do not care about you anymore.

(disclaimer – not stating you have to be in a relationship for the best college experience or vice versa, whatever you want your relationship status to be is completely up to you and having a special person in your life or not can really make a difference)

In college, in terms of relationships and friendships; it is all about give and take, about letting them do their thing, for you to do your thing and for you both to meet in the middle.

Finally, sometimes relationships and friendships can have a time where you both are going to drift apart and it truly is sad, but for some reason maybe it just wasn’t meant to be that way.

 

3) Be Yourself

I’m sure you hear this frequently, but I cannot stress enough how important it is for you to act in a manner of who you really are.

Embrace your qualities and love every part of yourself, college is completely different to secondary school; there are no cliques, which means you shouldn’t have to impress a crowd of people for you to feel accepted.

If you aren’t comfortable in a situation, don’t be someone you’re not just to be in with a group of people especially when college is full of people who are willing to accept you for you.

Like a certain type of music? Love to study? Go for it, you do you!

Also, if you found it hard to make connections and you are worried for the coming months, try not to stress yourself out too much. It can be very easy to make friends in college; everyone is in the exact same boat as yourself so therefore the perfect opportunity for you to make friends.

One of the beautiful things about college is you will make connections and form groups with people, whether they are people you knew previously before college but didn’t really associate with because you were from different towns, or a person you never knew even existed before the moment you met them!

Friendships can be made in the blink of an eye which really is something very impressive.

Also, everyone loves to ring home and say “I made a friend!!”

 

4) Manners

Okay so in the previous point I stated to act in a manner of who you really are as a person.

But, this is one quality that everyone really should have and I don’t have a lot to touch on it because it is straightforward.

Manners, they really can go a long way especially in everyday life first impressions can have an impact of how people think of you from that moment.

Smile, hold the door for the person behind you or even just say please and thank you!

Also, everyone has their own demons so it’s just nice to be nice.

 

5) Organisation

Is it just me or does anyone else love getting new stationary?!

Yes people it is that time of year again but it is also an opportunity for you to organize yourself.

Okay yes we all have the intention at the start of the academic year to be the first class honours / A1 student, (eventually ending up at the end of the year with three pens) but that doesn’t mean that this year will be the same.

I can be quite an organised person but I look back on the year and sometimes I wish I got a grip of all the sheets I was getting and keeping up with my notes because at the end of the year I was that student that had to re print sheets in order to understand a certain topic in lectures.

Folders, your password to your online student portal and to-do lists are now going to become your best friend. That way at the end of the semester when exams approach you will have some recollection that your sheet is in a folder and not in a copy that you forgot in the canteen.

If you keep your space tidy around you and make a tiny effort to keep your college utensils intact, your mind will also feel tidy and that way you won’t feel piled on top of when assignments all come at once (because trust me they do)

Whilst on assignments, I am not saying to head straight to the library once you get the title, but even if you get a head start or plan out when you are going to tackle these things because although the intention might not stick around for long, it is always nice to give it a go and say you tried.

Also, when you’re organised, you set off a certain aura towards everyone, they get a sense of fresh air when you are around and may be even motivated to be as organised as you are.

 

6) Lectures

Alisha, you are not telling me I actually have to attend lectures whilst in college??

Yes, another point I cannot stress enough how important this is.

9AM starts can be heartbreak to attend but trust me attendance makes a difference in the long run because not only do you excel better as a student, but you understand the lecture a lot more.

Also if you like the course it will be half the battle as attending lectures will be a breeze (well, once you train yourself to be a morning person).

The point I would like to highlight here is quite the opposite of liking your course, it is about if you aren’t attending lectures because you simply do not like the course you’re studying.

If at any time you come to the realisation that you do not like the course you are studying, you have to do something about it.

Obviously it might be a phase as the current lecture you’re taking is difficult, maybe it is too hard, or maybe it just isn’t for you and if that is the case, staying in a course for the sake of college is not the answer, I have had plenty of friends that were in this situation and sadly missed out on getting their fees back also getting into the re-opening of the CAO; Speak to guidance councillors on campus, the guidance councillor in your previous school, even speaking to a friend or family member can make a difference.

There are plenty of options for you, Re-applying for a different course or taking a year out for example, but remember college isn’t for everyone.

But my advice is to strike whilst the iron is hot before you end up at a loose end.

 

7) Clubs and SOCS

I’m sure you see this on all college websites and brochures, but joining clubs and societies can have a great impact on your time in college.

They can have various positive benefits; such as meeting and making new friends, gaining a new past time or passion and just all around health benefits for physical and mental health reasons.

Look you might not have ever been on a debate team before or might not even be that good at basketball, but it really is just getting involved and trying new things and who knows, you might actually find a hidden talent.

 

8) Opportunities

This is something I can actually advocate and stand by my word and say you will never look back at that jumping to any opportunity that is raised.

As someone who grabs opportunities by the horns the only thing I can say is any council, project or movement I have been involved in has only ever gave back good things to me and it has only ever built up my CV for the better.

The only negative thing you would get by applying to join a council or project is that your idea would not be raised or you wouldn’t get on the panel that was advertised but don’t be dis-heartened as it is better to apply and believe in yourself than not apply at all.

 

9) Accommodation

No matter whether it is student accommodation, a house or digs – this rule can apply to all.

When living in accommodation with other people that are not your family you need to make that extra effort around your house.

You mess it, you clean it.

I was blessed with my housemates as I got along with all of them very well but not everyone gets those situations.

Make life a lot easier for yourself and just play your part and everyone shall get along nicely.

An example for this is if you make a mess from a party or just even from making your dinner, try not to put it off for a long time as that can make you have a tainted relationship with your housemates.

 

10) Know your self-worth

Look after yourself, if you don’t want to head out that is perfectly okay, it is important to have some ‘me-time’ after all.

Know how important you are, love yourself and make sure people treat you the way you feel you should be treated.

You are the only you there is so embrace that!

At the end of the day you are the most important person in your life.

 

 

So that is it, I’m sure there are more things I have learnt and I know for sure I have plenty more lessons awaiting me in the future but for now they are the ten I feel are most important.

Of course in college, there are going to be down days and again those are absolutely fine but remember there is always a new day ahead of you.

Be excited as you start the next chapter of your life and please please please enjoy every moment because it goes too quick.

For those who aren’t attending college just yet, enjoy that time also as it is all ahead of you and we really are in the best years of our life so to make the most of it.

 

Over and out,

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