College is a daunting and confusing time for most young people; the big move away from home, no more of mammy’s dinners, and the fact that you will most likely have quite a small budget to survive on.
All of these can cause severe anxiety among youths and can make it difficult to enjoy your first year of college, but never fear ,JOE has got your back with these ten things to make settling in that little bit easier.
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Actually attend college
Some first years believe that, because you are under no obligation to attend much of your college classes, it is simply a licence to not go in. JOE knows that there is always another episode of Suits and Game of Thrones to watch, but it is vitally important that you attend college.
You have to attend, not just to learn but to meet your new classmates. These are the people who will be with you for the duration of your college course so it is important to get to know them early and make friends. Harvey Spector and Jon Snow won’t be able to help you out when you’re writing that 2,000 word essay on the difference between liberalism and realism.
Socialise with your new roommates
Chances are if you live on campus in first year, you will be placed in a house full of randomers, and the prospect of making strained conversation early on will scare the living bejaysus out of you. That's natural, especially if you are feeling a wee bit homesick.
But remember, these housemates are in the exact same boat as you and probably call home 627 times a day just to talk to their parents. Make conversation and be sure to go on a bonding night out with them to break the ice. It's great for getting to know them and, tryst us, will be a good topic of conversation the day after.
Join a club/society
This is a great way to get to know people with similar interests to yourself. If you are into GAA you should join the college GAA club, if you are into Yu Gi Oh cards then we're sure there will be a corresponding society to sate your interests. The point is, there are plenty of people in university who you will like and have a good camaraderie with, but you won’t find them sitting on your couch every day.
Go on a road trip
Pack an overnight bag into your mate's car and take a trip to visit some friends in another college. You won’t regret it.
Join the campus gym/leisure club
This is a great way to stay fit during the year when your college diet might not be the healthiest (you're probably living on pizza and the nearest takeaway).
Not only will it have you in tip top shape and looking your best (everyone will be jealous), the sauna and steam rooms are a great way to relax after a particularly stressful day in college. Plus, it's another great spot to meet people.
Complete at least one assignment where you put in a lot of effort
That feeling when you hand in something you've done to the best of your ability is a pretty sweet feeling… unless you receive terrible marks in the aforementioned assignment, but that won't happen if you try your best, we promise.
Save your photos
This may not be the first thing that springs to mind, but JOE urges you to gather all the photos on your phone and back them up somewhere like iCloud or Dropbox. Phones go on the fritz all the time and you don't want to lose all the moments and videos you've captured during your year thanks to dodgy technology... or dodgy handling on your part.
Order a late night takeaway and eat all of it
Pretty self-explanatory this one. Order a massive pizza or kebab with some friends at one in the morning and basically eat everything that is sent out. Do NOT leave one morsel behind as waste.
FIFA Tournament
Hold or at least attend a FIFA tournament where the forfeits such as the Facebook apology and the door-to-door apology are enforced. It adds a bit of extra tension to the games.
Do something outside your comfort zone
This can be anything including volunteering off campus, doing a segment on the college radio station, or even just taking a class you wouldn't normally consider. There is an old saying that goes; "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone."
JOE's a firm believer that this statement is true and we recommend you try it.
So there you have it folks, make sure you give our suggestions a go and you never know, you may end up being King of the College... or at the very least have a good bit of craic trying.
