Dear freshman You: Advice from a college senior

By: Jaydin Riley 

When people say college is supposed to be the best four years of your life, and that the years will fly by, they are 100% correct. As a graduating senior, the past 3.5 years have been so much fun. 

College has been one of the best experiences that I could have asked for. I am eternally grateful for Texas Tech, not only for the opportunities that I've been given while I've attended this university, but for the friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.

If I were going to give a freshman advice, I would encourage students to be organized, introduce themselves to professors, and to not be afraid to do something 

I think one of the greatest parts about college is that it gives you so many opportunities to find out who you are, what you want to do, and what activities you want to be involved in.

It can seem intimidating to join clubs or organizations, introduce yourself to random people to make friends, or go to the dining hall by yourself. But, in my time at Texas Tech, I’ve met my best friends, served in leadership roles, found my dream career, and so much more because I wasn’t afraid to try new things.  

Being in college and being completely responsible for yourself is difficult. There isn’t anyone to tell you to clean your room, do your laundry, or even make your meals.

Becoming an organized person in college is a life changer. For classes, I would recommend going through all of your assignments and adding them to a spreadsheet organized by date so you do not miss any deadlines. For more general tips I recommend putting away our laundry away when you do it and making your bed in the morning, I promise it’s game changing. 

 All these things also come with time, so don’t rush and do what you can.  

I make an effort to introduce myself to every professor and teaching assistant for each class I am in. When introducing myself, I also try to mention something I’m excited to learn about in class to start a conversation.

 Doing this not only introduces them to who you are, but it helps you begin to build a professional relationship. As you go throughout the semester, it will be easier for you to talk to your instructor if you want to ask for help, for advice, or for an extension on an assignment.  

My biggest piece of advice is to enjoy every day. Even when you don’t have the “picture perfect”college day, enjoy every moment because one day, you will be months from graduating and wondering where the time went.