#1 Go to BYU. Don't even think twice about it. I did. Ohhh boy did I. I was so against being the typical Mormon girl who goes to the Y as one of the thousands and getting her M.R.S. I am such an independent person that needs to feel unique or be original (I like to stand out, what can I say? haha). And BYU was not that. Besides, it seemed so big! And I came from a small town. Not a good fit. I looked and looked for another school that would better fit my needs and still be somewhat prestigious (I'm a little proud, haha) but nothing came up. I just kind of settled for the Y. But the Lord knew I needed to be here so I got here. And...it's the best thing that's ever happened. Ever. Oh my gosh.
So don't question it. Just go.
So don't question it. Just go.
#2 Get the freshman experience! Don't be that girl that just wants to jump into a seriously adult life. That's my best friend. She doesn't participate in anything, doesn't date, doesn't make friends. She wants to finish school as soon as is physically possible and move on to her career. Oh my dear ladies, there is so much more to life than that. So much than a career or starting a family. This time is supposed to be all about you. So take advantage of it! There are so many opportunities and activities and people! This first, second, maybe third year in college fresh out of high school is the time to live.
To soar.
To do everything you've ever dreamed of.
Now is the time to live for yourself, not your career, not your future family.
Those will come. College is the time to do it all of the other things. Make sure when you tell your children what you did with your life before you had them that you have something to tell.
So do it all.
#3 Live in Helaman! That might sound close-minded but seriously.. You need one year of living in a dorm with a meal plan. It makes all the difference. That being said, get out of the dorms your second year. It's generally all freshman living on-campus and you don't want to be that sophomore creepin on the li'l freshie boys.
#4 Take pictures. End of story.
#5 Date date date date date!!! Date everyone your freshman year! Even those guys that seem a little weird and maybe not your type..like.. at all. Just go out with them once! If nothing else, hey, it's a free meal. ;)
But there's a catch to this. Date a lot of different guys and don't give your heart away too quick. Make sure to guard it and play hard to get. Don't start seeing one guy more than any of the others. Even if you're so crazy, head-over-heels about him. Because, listen (and I do have a good reason), they're all leaving on their missions in a year or so. After that there will be no one to date so carelessly! There will only be RM's left! (which means marriage..) So date all the other little freshman boys! Get around! ;)
Oh, and kissing! Kissing is fun. Kissing can be very nice. *Heehee*, very nice... :) But. Don't kiss too much. Sure it's awesome to be able to brag and say "I've kissed (insert number here) boys!" (not that you should be bragging about that! No kiss and tell! Don't do that!) but a kiss needs to be special. Make sure you've been out with the guy multiple times and you genuinely care for him before that. And whatever you do (I know from experience) don't start going steady with him afterward. Branch out. Please, hear me on that one.
#6 Do your homework! Do it! You're not like the other college kids around the world that are in college to get drunk, have sex, and party. You are here to get an education and the socializing is just a wonderfully awesome bonus. "Enter to learn; go forth to serve"..so learn! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to gain knowledge from brilliant professors.
Once. In. A. Lifetime.
Do not waste it! When else is your mind going to be so absorbent, the opportunities so readily available, your life so carefree?? You have to get as much crammed in that brain of yours right now. (That being said, I feel the exact same way about high school. Learn, darn it! Learrrrrn!)
#7 Find who you are. Better yet, find who you are before you come. It's easy to get lost in the crowds of people. Make sure you're internally found. In high school my identity was centered on my success and achievements. Once I started losing that, I lost myself. But once I found who I really was, the confident, happy, faithful girl I am now, I was able to come to college and be happy with myself. Imagine if I hadn't.. Everyone here at this university is just as, if not more, successful as I had been. I am a very average, little fish in a huge pond of accomplishments. Everyone's smart, everyone's talented, everyone's Mormon. If I continued to only find happiness in that.. I would have been utterly completely despondent. I had to find who I truly was and what actually made me happy and me before I came.
Come to college.
Don't be the person that looks back on their life and thinks "high school was the best time of my life".
High school.
Sucks.
It's a petri dish of hormones, idiots, and stereotypes.
Don't let that be the greatest time of your life.
Because this is meant to be. :)
