What I wish I knew my first semester

By Sofia Gonzalez

College is new, it’s exciting, but it’s also a time for growth — and that might scare some people. During my own time at the University of Houston, I wish I had gone into college with a different mindset about certain things, so here is what I believe every college freshman should know:

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.

College is the time to find your niche! Go out to all the activity fairs, and see what interests you the most. There are tons of things you can do to find yourself in college. For example, my thing was student media, but for others it may be student government, Greek life, or any other club that UH has to offer. There are over 400 organizations — you are bound to fit in.

Make friends!

I was someone who was extremely afraid of losing my high school best friends, and I hate to break it to you, I did. I felt lonely in the beginning stages of college. So, make friends through any organizations you join! Talk to people in the student center! It is also OK if you don’t stay friends with people you met during your first semester — never stop making friends, and never stop growing.

Prioritizing your mental health is crucial.

College is a lot different from high school. It’s fast paced, for some the classes are 10 times harder, and you’re on your own in student living. All of these things can add up — so remember that mental health check-ins are imperative for surviving throughout your college career. Skipping class will only hurt you.

So you have an 8 a.m. and you don’t want to go, we have all been there, but skipping class means missing out on a lot of important information — some of which could be crucial information you need to pass the class. Prioritizing your mental health and taking breaks does not mean skipping class — it means allowing you to breathe before that class. Remember that falling behind will only hurt your class grade more in the end.

If you know what career path you want to follow,

start thinking about internships.

I know it’s only your first semester, but try to reach out to companies you would like to work for and make those connections! It’s easy to push off internships, but these are the experiences that will help you the most. Not only do internships look great on resumes, but the connections made through this experience can help you get far in life.

Most importantly — remember that it’s OK to have fun!

Some people will tell you to focus only on your studies, but this will only get you so far. We are young, we want to do what young people do. Don’t get so caught up in your school career that you forget to live your life in the moment. College is only four years.