A freshman survival guide to college

  I remember it like it was yesterday. Five years, one crazy internship, and four schools later, I donned the black gown and received that sought-after piece of paper.
    Roughly 150 pseudo-adults will be leaving the Tri-Town shortly. Four years at Old Rochester Regional High School have ended, and in a few weeks, many of the seniors will be off to that distant far-off land known as college. Strap yourself in, recent high school grads. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.
    The biggest questions plaguing most 18-year-old’s is, What’s going to happen when my parents pull out of the parking lot after moving me in? The chord has been cut. No more curfews. No more permission slips. Freedom has come at last. Everything is going to be different.
    Well, not everything. The acne doesn’t necessarily disappear once you live in a dorm, nor does the inability to talk members of the opposite sex. Do things become easier? In some ways, yes, because for the first time in your life, you will be making your own decisions. Will you make bad ones? That’s guaranteed. But a wise man (Billy Joel) once said: "You’ll learn more from your accidents than anything that you could ever learn in school."
    After going through five years of college, I experienced just about everything one can on a college campus. Here’s a nickel’s worth of free advice:
    Your roommate/floor: From a jock roommate that didn’t fancy bathing to a floor full of guys that didn’t understand the concept of "quiet hours," I saw it all, as will you. Make friends with these people as best as you can. Grit and bare your floor mate’s insufferable behavior as much as possible and try to remain friends with them, because if there is one thing that college kids love other than partying, it’s revenge. If someone is horrendously obnoxious without trying to be, imagine what they will be like when they try.
    Partying: Parents, you might want to skip over this section. Kids who want to party are going to party. It’s as simple as that. Like everything in life, moderation is the key. Going out and raising hell isn’t a problem until you go overboard with it. Look around at the freshmen you see partying all the time. I promise you that 75 percent of those kids won’t make it to their sophomore year.
    Classes: This is where college differs greatly from high school. If you don’t show up to class on time or skip in high school, you get detention. There are no detentions in college. In a large class at a big school, teachers don’t take attendance, and they’re not going to stop by your room to make sure you go. I’m not a morning person, therefore, I didn’t take early morning classes unless absolutely necessary. If you stay out late and have a class you don’t like at 8 a.m., eventually you will stop going.
    Professors: There is a reason why they are called professors, not teachers. A high school teacher will yell at you for not paying attention or make you stay after class to make sure you understand the material. In college, you simply fall by the wayside.
    Most professors are approachable, and a lot of larger classes have teacher’s assistants that can help you. A great way to get help with a class is to talk to someone who has already taken it. If you fall behind in a difficult class and do nothing about it, chances are you’re doomed.
    Parents: College freshmen need to understand that their parents are going through the exact opposite emotions. Although some kids may be reluctant to admit it, a part of them wants to stay home, but they can’t wait to get to college. Once kids first get to college, parents need to take a hands-off approach for a little while. Kids know that their parents are there for them, but there is so much going on at once, and unfortunately, parents take a backseat to that. My mother has a tip for all parents: "Buy new towels for the home and let the kids take the old ones."
    And last, but certainly not least, is the experience in general. I transferred between four schools as it took me forever to find what I was looking for. Do I recommend it? Not really, but college is finding out what works for you. Have as many intelligent conversations as possible with as many different people as possible. The truth is, ORR is not at all a diverse place. It’s not even close. That’s just the way it is in this area. College is going to be a culture shock, I promise you. Don’t worry, most make it out alive.
    Heck, if I could, so can you.