15 tips on surviving college, from one clueless student to another

by BRANDON UTLEY
​Staff writer
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Going to a new school for the first time is always as scary experience, especially when it’s college. You are forced into a situation where you have no friends, no job, and no clue what you are doing with your life. Between classes that seem impossible, the awkward stigma of meeting new people, and the exhausting feeling of being broke as a joke, you may find yourself to be a little lost. So as a fellow person that has no clue what I am doing, I feel that I am qualified to give you some advice. Here are a few tips for anyone who may need help surviving at school.

1. Respect your RA: These individuals are not there every day just to bust you. They will not go looking for something to get you in trouble for, so do not treat them as if they were. Your resident assistants are living in the halls with you not only to make sure all procedures are being followed, but also to be a friend when you need one. If you need help with anything, or just want to hang out, go to your RA. They got hired for a reason and will go above and beyond to help you out.
2. Clean up after yourself: The main issue most first-year students have is also the greatest reward – freedom. Yes, you are living on you own. Yes, you do not have mom and dad telling you to clean you room. Yes, you can finally do what you want (within basic code of conduct). This does not mean you can go without cleaning up after yourself and allowing your room to smell like something died. Your roommate does not appreciate it, your RA does not appreciate it, and the people living in the hall do not appreciate it. Do not be THAT room in the hall that people walk the long way to avoid.
3. Do not trash the residence hall: This is where you live. This is your home and the home to many other students, so treat it that way. You would not walk into your parents’ house and throw trash on the ground (at least I hope you do would not do that). You should never do it there, and you should never do it here. There are trash cans for a reason, use them.
4. Do not party every night: Seriously, it is not worth it. Going out and having a fun night may sound fun and all, but it is a killer when those 8 a.m. classes come the next morning. Risking your education, health, and safety is not worth one night of fun that you may not even remember.
5. Get involved: Getting involved is the easiest way to make new friends. Join clubs or other organizations on campus. Try out for a sport. Join the music department. Do whatever you can to become more involved on campus. Do not just sit in your room all day (even if Netflix is tempting). Go out, meet new people, and try new things. I promise you will not regret it.
   
6. Get to know your professors: They might annoy you, but they will be your best resource during times of trouble. Get on your professors’ good sides; it will pay off in the long run. If your professor likes you, you will be able to go to them with anything. Trust me, there will be times in the semester where you are so lost in your studies that you will go to a professor’s office just to vent (it definitely makes you feel better).
7. Go to class: GO TO CLASS NO MATTER WHAT! Unless you are deathly ill or have a serious emergency, you need to make an effort to be in class. Even if you are sick, hungover, or think you have better things to do, you will regret it. This is not high school where you can miss classes and be fine; you miss one class and you will think you are in an entirely different class.
8. Get to know Tiffin: Even though there are a lot of activities on campus, go out into this city. You will be amazed by the amount of activities going on locally that you may enjoy. Find new restaurants that do not include fast food or pizza. Discover local shops. Check out the park. You will never know what there is to do here unless you go out find it.
9. Eat healthy: I know most of you are cringing at this, but take this seriously. I am not saying you have to eat salad all the time. You can eat what you want, just in moderation. FRESHMEN 15 IS A THING. Cut down on the Little Caesars and Taco Bell and try to have a “diet without dieting.” Eat what you want, just do not overdo it.
10. Make time to exercise: Here we go again with the cringe-factor. I of all people am in no position to give advice on exercising. By this, I do not mean you have to go to the gym every day. All you have to do is go for a walk. Get out of your room and get some fresh air. One walk a day can make a world of difference.
11. Do not sleep in: You may hate me for this, but it is not worth it. The days of sleeping until noon are behind us. Every once in a while, it may feel nice, but it only makes it harder to go to bed that night. You will also start to notice that the longer you sleep in, the more fatigued you are all day. Try to wake up between 8 and 10 a.m. every day; it will make you feel better in the long run.
12. Take naps: This is the silver lining behind not sleeping in. Naps are back, my friends. The best time of the day in preschool is now your new favorite in college. Take naps whenever you have time without trying to force them into your schedule. If you find that you have had a rough couple of days and have a few hours to spare, take a nap. You will wake up more refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the day.
13. Always have your keys: This is a major one. Never leave your room without your keys, even if you are just going to the bathroom. You never know when your roommate is going to lock the door on you and you will be stuck in the hallway calling your RA. Nobody wants to be stranded outside of their room. Not to mention it is also a $15 charge for every time you get let in. Make sure you always have your keys.
14. Take time for yourself: Schedule time in your day for self-reflection, whether this be a nap or watching Netflix. Make sure you are taking time out of your day to be by yourself without having to stress about homework, friends, or any other issues you may be dealing with. This will not only calm you down, but it will allow you to think about all that you have been stressing about and whether or not it is truly worth it.
15. Do not stress too much: College is stressful, I know. Just remember, your mental and physical health is top priority. Do not work yourself too hard. Keep track of all that you have to do and do not overdo it. At the end of the day, only you know what you can and cannot handle, so keep your obligations within those limits.

College is a new and exciting time for everyone. It is a chance to start over with people who do not know you or anything you did in high school. Take this as an opportunity to be your true self. You know what you are capable of, and do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Stay organized and do not stress over the little things. Follow these 15 tips and you are assured to have an amazing four years.