Advice to my Freshman-self

Here are ten pieces of advice I would go back and give to my freshman self if I could. I think these are applicable to each and every one our lives anyway, so they are still good rules to live by.

1.     Do all things in moderation. Spend time studying, with friends, relaxing, sleeping, eating, working out, etc. Do not over indulge and keep your life as balanced as possible! A little bit each day will go along way!

2.     Try new things and get involved right away. Hey, you are basically a foreigner here and you barely know anyone! Go out and explore your interests and meet some people who share them. You will be happy you did and will probably meet life-long friends.

3.     Make mistakes. Failing a test, screwing up a relationship, oversleeping for class, those are all things that are going to happen. What you learn from them is what truly matters.

4.     Like everyone, trust few. Everyone is in the same boat as you with trying to make friends. Treat everyone you meet the same way, but wait to trust anyone until you really see who sticks around. You will be happy you did this.

5.     Make a resume and cover letter. You might not need them right away, but when you make it, you will see how much room you have to fill.

6.     Learn everything you can about your school. Purdue pride is something you should be a part of. You did chose to come here after all, so make the most of your short four years here (trust me, they will go fast!)

7.    Don’t sweat the small stuff. Life is too short to get wrapped up in things that don’t matter.

8.    Be open-minded. Our school is very diverse and there are so many great people you can meet and learn from. You will meet people from all over the globe. Don’t shy away from your peers knowledge and experiences, embrace them.

9.    Do what you really want to do and pursue your interests. If you don’t like what you are doing, stop doing it! Find what you really like and go for it! (You know those Pharmacy classes you are in right now? Yeah, you actually really don’t like them. Try communications, you are so much better with your words! )

10.  Thank your parents. They got you here and they are your biggest supporters. Be appreciative of them and continue to look to them for support.