freshman faux-pas by panharidth in
Freshman year in high school or college is the epitome of stress, distress and an abundant amount of mistakes. But I had to wonder: what mistakes do you NEVER EVER want to repeat for the next “freshman year”. Would it be falling in love with someone you know you have no chance in being with? Or would you not want to pile up all the work to the last minute? Maybe you decide for a change to switch up your diet. Or maybe you decide to bring an extra set of clothes with you if you have an accident or work outside. Note: always have an extra set of clothes. Always.
For me in high school, my faux pas was not my eating habit (even though I ate like garbage), or my fashion sense (even though plaid with a tie was my go to outfit) but my faux pas, like all my other posts, was love. Yeah 14-year-old Panha crushing on someone who was: a. Out of his league. And b. Someone who was totally not into him. And though I want to indulge you in my twisted story, I want to do something different. I will in fact give you a taste of what my fate was but I also want to give you an update on how my pre-freshman year of college is going, along with other tidbits from close sources on their “freshman faux pas."
First let’s talk about the top five freshman faux pas, in high school or college, that everyone should avoid.
Dressing up. This was a mistake that I made. If someone can still figure out that you’re a freshman, then that means it’s time to get the stupid lanyard off your neck. Nothing could be more indicative of “freshman” than having the lanyard with the ID around your neck 24/7. It’s handy but that’s also why wallets were invented.
Letting your health suffer. Avoid at all costs! The relationship that is most important in your life is the one that you have with yourself (we’ll come back to that later). Therefore, never procrastinate your work, spread your work out, and avoid a 3 hour sleep shift. That being said, don’t be afraid to go out for a nice time, especially if you go to school or college in a city. Take advantage of that opportunity and turn up when needed.
Getting Stuck on Campus at All Time. Trust me folks, if you’re going to university in a great big city like New York, take the time to enjoy your surroundings and all the possibilities there. Maybe you might want to explore and immerse yourself in the culture and iconic sceneries at the The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Or maybe you’re trying to make your mark to be the next big sensation and you came to New York City because you wanted to see all the glitz and the glam up close. Or maybe you’re just here to bump into your one true half while having lunch at Washington Square Park. Whatever it may be, take the time and opportunity to explore.
Changing who you are to appear more mainstream. If you want to please someone, make sure you please them as yourself and not anybody else. Just like what bullet point 2 says: “the best relationship you have, is the one you will have with yourself”. Plain and simple. If you want to put yourself out in the world and make your mark as the “dude who is super talkative but always insightful and kid”, then go right ahead. Your freshman year will ultimately change who you are. There’s no doubt about it but, truthfully, you cannot let the values that you hold dear go away. Stay true to who you are because real, unconditional friends will gravitate to you based on you and nothing else.
Letting go of the past. It’s great to go to a new university with an open mind and perspective. That being said, you shouldn’t totally negate your past. You are the person you are today because of your past. Sometimes, you are going to need to acknowledge your past and acknowledge the mistakes you’ve made to find the answer in the present. I know it’s tough keeping in touch with your old high school or middle school mates but the ones that care about you and the ones you care about most will always pick up the phone at 2 am to help you solve almost anything. Never. Ever. Forget where you once were.
As for my pre-freshman career right now, I take my grace and humility along with me as I embark on a new adventure to my university. I guess it’s just the Aquarian nature within me. Do I have a new found freshman love interest? Maybe. Maybe not. What I care most about is my relationship with myself and my wallet because I like have my money belong to me and no one else. When it comes to the freshman faux pas, it’s always fun to make a few. Just for the memories!