As my freshman twelvemonth comes to an stop, I have a plethora of stories I could share, both good and bad. I've had a lot of ups and downs. I made a lot of friends and had a lot of fun, but I also made a lot of mistakes. Here is some genuine, wholehearted advice from your not-so-average teenage girl, who can be and so smart and withal so naive about the reality of higher life at UF:

ane) School Comes First

It is really easy to go defenseless up in the party lifestyle, especially at a party school like UF where people go out everyday. Yes, going out is fun, I'yard not going to lie to yous. The problem is, in the long run, it hinders your daily routine and productivity. Nosotros tend to forget that we came to college for schoolhouse and a successful future rather than partying. Don't allow the partying exist your priority and deject your judgement. Focus on schoolhouse, rewards will come later.

Here's The Honest Reality Of College Life At UF

2) Don't Beginning Higher In A Relationship

If y'all take been dating your fellow, girlfriend since high schoolhouse, the best, real, communication that I can give you is: "suspension up." College is a completely different ball game. You have a lot more complimentary fourth dimension and independence than you did in high schoolhouse. Higher is the time to brand new friends and have your own experiences, without someone to hold you back. That being said, I know couples who practice it and make information technology work without a problem. It is possible, the trouble is that at this historic period, girls and guys want different things and are on extraordinarily unlike pages.

Here's The Honest Reality Of College Life At UF

Honestly, in my experience, going to the same school is harder than doing long distance. Why? Because there is so much time in the day and you're going to spend most of that time together rather than meeting new people. During my summer and fall semesters, I stayed with my boyfriend from high school considering we had been together 3 years and it felt too difficult to let go. I'grand not going to say that I regret it, but I do wish I had taken that fourth dimension to make friends of my ain, and just have time to myself to be able to think about me, my needs, and my time to come, without constantly worrying nearly someone else and what they're doing.

Trust me, it is (unremarkably) for the best, at to the lowest degree in the outset of college. You miss out on a lot of the college feel if yous first off in a relationship, or even with as well many of the same people from high schoolhouse.

3) A Faux ID is NOT Worth Information technology

This is So important. Remember when y'all used to tell your mom "everybody'south doing information technology," and your mom responded "well, everybody is non my kid, you are." This is one of those times where you need to listen to your mom. I can't tell you what to do, but my advice to you is, IF you practise drink underage, BE CAREFUL. I cannot tell you lot the corporeality of times I have either seen or heard nigh higher students getting MIP's (Small in Possession) while out, especially on game days. UFPD walks, drives around campus looking for underage drinkers. Sometimes, they will choose random nights where they raid midtown with the sole purpose of communicable a student drinking underage. DON'T get caught with a imitation ID!!!!

Here's The Honest Reality Of College Life At UF

I know that most people in Gainesville have a imitation ID, however, most people don't get caught… but at that place is a take chances that you might. A couple nights out, no thing how fun, is non worth a felony or misdemeanor charge, spending a dark in jail, and/or being on probation with UF. So, be safety, go out with people that you know and trust, and always be enlightened of your environment!! Don't allow anything as stupid every bit a fake ID ruin everything you've worked for.

4) Give It A Risk

When I outset got to UF, I hated information technology. UF had been my dream school since I was in elementary school. Withal, when senior year came around, I became more and more than interested in going to school out-of-state. Unfortunately, out-of-land college is Actually expensive. UF was the nearly viable option for me and my family. When I started summer B, I was neutral well-nigh the school. I was caught upward in the fact that I wanted to be in a city in the Northeast. And I never really gave UF (and Gainesville) a chance until leap semester. For me, autumn was extremely miserable; I didn't want to transfer back dwelling house, I couldn't transfer out-of-state because it was as well expensive, and yet I wanted to be anywhere just Gainesville. I felt trapped.

Here's The Honest Reality Of College Life At UF

Towards the end of fall, I realized I needed to become a grip and be thankful that I attend a elevation ten public school in the US. From then on, my life did a whole 360. I began making more friends, started exploring Gainesville more, and fifty-fifty convinced my parents to let me bring my car up! Besides, I decided that I want to rush a sorority this upcoming fall. I don't know that I will necessarily like being a part of Greek life, merely I am trying to leave of my condolement zone.

Don't knock it 'till you try it! I really am eternally grateful to UF for giving me friends that I can't imagine my life without, an outstanding education with passionate teachers, and the opportunity to study away in Fez, Kingdom of morocco for a whole semester. Similar I said, requite it a gamble, you might actually fall in love with your school similar I did.

Looking dorsum, I should have done a lot differently; I should accept rushed autumn semester, studied more, put myself out there, gotten a job, and worked out a lot more than. Unfortunately, time travel has non been invented nevertheless. If there'due south anything I have learned, it's that you lot need to learn from your mistakes, work on improving yourself, and keep moving. Life doesn't stop for anyone or anything.

If yous accept any questions about higher life at UF or merely desire communication for college in full general, experience free to email me at gaby.yero@gmail.com. My door is ever open! And every bit e'er, Go GATORS!! 🔶🐊🔷