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"Dos and Don'ts" for College Freshman

Published by
Brando1013   Jul 14th 2013, 8:51pm
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Exiting your last day on your high school campus, diploma in hand, you ask yourself, "what next?" Hopefully a bunch of sweaters and t-shirts fill your closet as you've already picked a college to attend. Whether you recently signed a National Letter of Intent or are just walking onto a team, college is the same for every college athlete too. Your own class schedule, early morning practices, and simply being independent, college life is an experience you will always remember. Not many things compare to those four or five years you spend on your own. Getting married and having children are probably the only two events in your life that top your college career. The first year of college can be tough though. For the first time in your life, Dad and Mom aren't around to help you do laundry and feed you, there is probably a dozen other athletes with the same credentials as you, and even though you don't go to school as much as you did in high school, the work-load is just as much, if not, more. That being said, I'm here to tell you the "do's" and "don't" you should keep in mind throughout your first year of college:

 

Do's:

  • Ask for help. Your college orientation and the first few meetings with your new team are very, very stressful. Be prepared to fill out A LOT of paperwork and listen to a lot of different individuals speak. Sure the college experience is incredible, however, starting off is no walk in the park. You're going to get frustrated. You're going to want to pull your hair out. Don't worry though. Relax, take a deep breath, and ask for help. Sure using your college website and figuring out how to get your class schedule on your own is hard, but there are a lot of people who will gladly help you, from your coach to your professors. Don't be afraid to confront them with questions, no matter how silly they may be.
  • Check your personal and school email at least once every day. Your professors and the athletic department send out reminders, mandatory meetings, and other important information all the time. Trust me, you do not want to miss a matatory meeting with your team or professor.
  • Go to class. There's going to be days you don't want to go to class because you're tired from that morning's practice session or not feeling well. Suffering for an hour in class is worth it, though, because professors give out important assignments and/or notes during every class session. Some classes don't take role, which can have a negative impact on your attendance too. Participation is a huge chunk of your grade, however, so go to class. I've also found professors often give higher grades if you make yourself noticed.
  • Meet new people. The individuals you meet in college almost always become your life-long friends, so don't be afraid to go around introducing yourself during the first week of school. Whether that's your teammates or classmates, you'll be surprised by the amount of people you meet. Don't be an outlier, attend different events on campus, and make sure you participate in class discussions and the dorm life.

 

Don't's:

  • Don't wait until the last minute to complete your homework. This isn't high school anymore. It's impossible to to do a project in one night. Because you're so independent in college, there's going to be a lot of distractions, like parties, videogames and sports. Schedule around these events and knock out your homework assignments the first chance you get. You don't want to be that guy or girl in the group that can't go out because you haven't done your work. You also don't want to ignore those assignments your professors give you because your grades will suffer tremendously if you choose not to do them at all. Remember this isn't high school anymore. The consequences are ten times more significant than they were in high school.
  • Be careful what you eat. Dad and Mom aren't around to cook for you three times a day, so monitoring what you eat is up to you. Most dining centers are all-you-can-eat, so don't pig out. Make sure to eat a healthy, balanced meal at least three times a day. Ever hear about the "Freshman 15?" A lot of students gain a lot of weight because they have the freedom to eat whatever they want. Obviously this is up to you, however, I'd strongly recommend watching what you eat, especially because you're an athlete. Gaining a lot of weight will have a negative impact on your performances. I remember my freshman year, I was injured for the first few months of the school year, so I gained 14 lbs.
  • Ditching practice is a big no-no. Don't even think about it, unless you're looking to get kicked off the team. If you're not feeling well or you have an important event that conflicts with practice, talk to your coach. Being a part of a college team is a huge honor, and an even bigger responsibility. I've seen team members miss the bus to meets or not attend practice because they were drunk the previous night. Don't do it, unless you want a really pissed off coach and a foot to your ass. Especially if you're on scholarship at the university, skipping practice is not an option.

 

Brandon Jauregui

Saugus, CA

brandosblog.weebly.com

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @SaugusRunner

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