If you read my other blog, What the Eff is This?, you’ll recognize this post. It’s just that I kind of like this one, so I thought I’d also post it here.
Dear 17 Year-Old Laura,
You’re 22 now, and there’s a few things that I thought I should share with you since I know you’re kind of freaking out about the future.
1) I know you’re excited about university and becoming a filmmaker and going to film school to become one. But honestly, university film school is a waste of time. You’ll go to film school anyway and it’s a good experience because you’ll live away from home but you’ll hate all your classes except for sociology. Also: Latin is a waste of time and money. You’ll fail it. When you get depressed with how unhappy you are at university, you’ll apply to colleges and you’ll switch into an awesome program that you’ll love. Just remember to keep in touch with your university friends. They’re kind of awesome.
2) You really don’t need a boyfriend as badly as you think you do.
3) I know you’re still mad at your ex-bestfriend Tallie, but that WILL pass in time. You’ll add her as a Facebook friend when she requests it, but you won’t actually remain friends. But that’s OK. It turns out that she wasn’t your type of person anyway. She was only slowing your awesome down.
4) I know you were disappointed with the Canadian Idol auditions, but don’t be. You’re actually a pretty good singer. Keep writing songs and playing the guitar. You get better at it.
5) You will never stop loving Harry Potter. You’re obsessed right now, but it will wane a little bit. You’ll stop being obsessed with the idea of going to England. Instead you’ll want to live in New York City after you and The Sister go on holidays there for 4 days. You’ll also really want to go to San Francisco, since Pixar’s campus is in the bay area.
6) You’re really going to want to work for Pixar. It’s going to become your life goal.
I know things are confusing right now, and you’re scared about university and stuff but don’t be. You’re awesome. I know you forget sometimes, but you’ll realize it later on.
A couple of days ago, my friend Patrick (@impatman) asked an open question on Twitter about what kind of shopping a first year has to do. I semi-jokingly replied that it’s basically the same shopping as a kindergarten, minus the crayons. Though, if I’m honest (and you guys know I’m always honest with you) I totally bought the crayons for my first year at college. But for the people who perhaps aren’t weirdos like me, just replace the crayons with a laptop and you’ve got yourself covered.
Anyway, that question got me thinking. I’m kind of an expert at the college thing. The school I’m going to in the fall will be the third post-secondary institution I’ve attended so I’ve done the firstie thing twice already. It’s not a big thing for me. However, some of my friends will be going to college or university in the fall and I thought it would make an interesting blog post if I could give them a few pieces of advice about college and maybe answer a few questions.
On Classes:
Courtney L: get a large calendar and be organized! Also (worked with DMA and Art Fundamentals) don’t buy everything on the list of art supplies that the teacher says. Make sure to ask what you’re doing next week in class so you can have the supplies ready. Chances are 80% of the supplies they put on the list aren’t going to be used in the semester.
Also added to that piece of advice, don’t get every book on your booklist right away. When you go to your first class, your teacher will probably have a syllabus that will tell you which books are mandatory and which are optional reading. Books are expensive so it’s better to hold off on spending all that money if you don’t absolutely have to spend it.
And while we’re on the subject of books, DO THE READINGS. This was a mistake that I made in my first first year. I would skim a lot of the readings or not do them at all and if you’re in a tutorial and your TA calls on you for your opinion, you’re screwed. (Unless you’re really good at bullshitting. And unless you went to Catholic School and had to write “reflections” for Religion class like I did, you might not be as good as you think.)
Rafi K: Don’t feel afraid or sorry to change your mind and act upon it!
If you don’t like your classes or your major after several weeks or months doing them, don’t give up but don’t be afraid to admit if you’re in over your head or if you hate what you’re doing. Switch programs if you want to try something different. Switch schools if you really think you need to.
On Parties:
@vocalheart: advice: don’t go to every party. Focus on studying, cause there will ALWAYS be another party.
If you’re living in residence, it’s going to be really tempting to go out and party all the time because finally, you don’t have any parental supervision HURRAY! But you’re paying a lot of money to be at that school, so don’t waste it getting wasted. If you have to choose between some guy’s kegger at his off-campus house and writing your mid-term paper, choose the mid-term paper.
I’m not saying, “don’t go to parties at all”. I’m saying, “remember why you’re at school in the first place”. There’s always going to be another party, but a due date is a due date. Get your shit done first.
On Residence:
@melonphobia: Roommates aren’t as bad as you’d think? D: That is, if you’re living in rez or whatever
If you’re living with a roommate for the first time, it might be a good idea to come up with some guidelines for living together when you first move in. For example, determining cleaning days and who cleans what. Talk about your sleeping habits if you’re sharing a room. My roommate and I (we knew each other in high school) came up with a protocol if one of us was a little upset at the other about something so that we could talk about it and resolve it like mature adults. Our protocol wasn’t exactly “mature” (it was to approach the other with a mug of hot chocolate and sing our house’s theme song. We actually did this) but it seemed to work.
Q: @keeneycomplied: What is one extremely inappropriate thing to bring to your dorm?
A: Anything alcohol related – unless you’re legal age, it’s never allowed in a dorm. Also any type of drug. If you have a roommate, if might be inappropriate to bring some sort of sex toy – though it would be hilarious.
Get involved with your residence. They’ll probably have some awesomely-lame theme nights that’s a great opportunity to get to know people on your floor and in your building.
If you need help with something, your Don (or R.A. or whatever your school might call them) is there to help you. When I was in residence, the people across the hall from my and my roommate’s room were super obnoxious and would be loud at all hours of the night and (because we were on the ground floor, near the fire escape door) would constantly be sneaking people in. When they wouldn’t listen to us when we asked them to quiet down, we had to get the Don involved and issues were resolved pretty quickly. I mean, the girls across the hall hated us afterward, but we didn’t really care. I mean, they were being stupid.
Also: Don’t be stupid. Follow the rules. Or you will be caught. And there will be consequences.
On Commuting:
Commuting is a pain in the ass, but it is doable. Think about your commuting options in terms of finances. If you can drive, how much is parking per semester? Factor in how much money you’ll be spending on gas as well. If you’re taking public transit, figure out if you’ll need a monthly pass or if there’s a cheaper option for you. How long will it take on public transit?
Also be prepared to stick around at school longer than some people. If you have three hours to kill between classes, where are you going to go?
I commuted for two years and I didn’t mind it at all. It was cheaper living at home and taking the bus, plus I had a part-time job that I went to at night as well.
On Friend Making:
@keeneycomplied: What’s the easiest way to make new friends in college?
Rafi K: Also, but now in your life, it’s OK to talk to strangers!
Talk to the people in your class. Introduce yourself if someone sits beside you or if you sit next to them. If you’re in residence, knock on your neighbours’ doors and leave your door open sometimes.
If you’re so inclined, get involved with a club or volunteer activity at the school. It’s a great way to meet and interact with people who have similar interests.
On Finances:
You’re in college. It doesn’t matter how much money you saved during the summer. Consider yourself poor. Don’t spend shit loads of money. If you need help with tuition, don’t be afraid to apply for a student loan. Loans aren’t exactly ideal, and if you can get through college without any debt, that’s awesome. But you might need the help. I don’t know what your financial situation is, but there’s no shame in applying for something like OSAP. If you really need the cash, check to see if your school has a work/study program to help you get a job on campus.
The final bit of advice comes from my friend, Frank D:
Frank D: Live for Yourself.
Here, here!
Laura Brightforth has attended one University and one College and will be attending another College in September. She has both lived in residence and commuted to school. Laura graduated with High Honors from College and went to her fair share of pub nights.
I wanted to let you guys know that I’m participating in BEDA (Blog Everyday August) this year, but not on this blog. I’m doing it over on my alternablog that is a lot less professionalish than this one called What the Eff is This?
(Side note: remember when this blog was “professional”? LOL. Me neither.)
If you feel like checking that out, please feel free. Leave some comments too, if you want. Or don’t. Whatever. Though I’d like you more if you did.
