The next (insert number of years here) is going to be one of the greatest times of your life. You’ll get to experience the freedom you’ve longed for, stay up for the late nights you didn’t expect, and find the greatest friends you never even knew existed.

You will fight with you roommate, multiple times. And it will be okay; nothing a small talk and a few bars of chocolate can’t fix. Remember, sometimes your mom can help. Call her, ask her what to do, involve her in your life. You are the one who needs to set the boundaries on when and how many times she can call. So talk to her.

It’s okay to fail. It’s okay to fail a lot, make mistakes, take stupid chances. There won’t be another time in your life when you can try this many things. So test out the waters, see what you like, find out what really makes you happy.

Sometimes it’s okay to skip your study sesh. You’re going to remember the night you stayed up playing Apples to Apples with your best friends, not what you got on a quiz that counts for 10% of your grade. Which brings me to…make memories! Yes, you go to college to get an education. But you’re only getting half of what you pay for if you only learn from books. So put off that paper one more day and go out with your friends.

Always think before you get a tattoo. Don’t use the excuse “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” Think about it, figure out exactly what you want. Remember that it is permanent, and your mom will find out about it some day.

Be single. Find out who you are without anyone attached to you. Date, and date a lot. You won’t be able to find out who you are interested in being with if you don’t play the field. Now, that is not me saying, “don’t be in a relationship!” Just make sure you figure out who you are FIRST.

Go to Sunday brunch as many times as possible, for you will miss the days when the greasy eggs were the perfect fix for your Saturday night hangover.

Never forget the times when your roommate rolls over at midnight and whispers “Are you still awake” and you both share why you can’t sleep while laughing at your neighbor’s intense make out sesh. Make sure to thank her for always being your number one fan and the twin sister you always wanted.

Freshmen: Remember you are new and you do not know anything about this environment. Never, under any circumstances, correct a senior…you may get hit, or black listed from future parties. On that note, go to parties, play Beirut and flip cup. And learn why upperclassmen mock freshman girls. (Need more freshman advice? Check out Everything I learned Freshman Year)

Sophomores: Do not utter “Oh my god freshman are so annoying,” but remember you were there less than 3 months ago. Sympathize with your younger counterparts. Enjoy being out of the freshman dorms, revel in the fact that you don’t have to ask for directions. And always keep in touch with the people who share your freshman year memories.

Juniors: You’re almost there, don’t wish it away. Have fun on your 21st birthday! Enjoy your first night to the bar. But remember to always go to the bar with a buddy, and watch out for the really creepy men that may try to hit on you, as well as the sloppy frat bros.

Seniors: Ahh, seniors. Don’t stress out, you will finish all of your work on time. Enjoy knowing your school and remember it’s okay to give a freshman the wrong directions. Go out and don’t think about “this is the last time…” just have fun making the memory. Take care of all graduation preparations before finals; trust me, it may seem a little unnecessary, but you’ll thank me. Let your parents and friends be proud of you — and thank them. Those in your life who have stayed with you for the past four years, supported you, endured your drunk dials, listened to your tales and given you a hug when you needed it most. Make sure to thank them all.

Good Luck!

Sincerely,
Courtney (one of the millions of graduating seniors)

Allow me to refine this status: Americanization is not to be confused with Westernization, nor is it a put-down.

International Students take up a demographic in most US colleges and universities. They are usually easily spotted on campus. No, not because that of clothing choices or accents, but because they maintain a certain wide eyed fascination and solemn intelligence. International students seem refined and sophisticated. Hard working and goal oriented. They worked hard to get to this prestigious American university and they keep that in mind as they work even harder to graduate.

Most International Students stick together, seeking the comfort of the familiar. They tend to sit back in class and take notes as the more abrasive and comfortable students take over answering the questions, debating the topics and joking with classmates. As soon as class ends, they head to the library or the comforts of their dorm room to get started on the reading assigned. They never join the rest of campus at the weekend parties.

But then something starts to change. As the semester rolls on and these students find themselves more at ease in their new environment, they begin to engage in common American customs. They become The Americanized International.

The Americanized International has parted ways with his/her frequent dialect for slang, exchanging pleasant “hellos” for degraded “what ups.” Their freshly acquired iPods are now filled with the rhymes of Lil Wayne and the Billboard Top 100. Whereas studying used to take up most of their time, it has now been reduced due to their newfound love of Thirsty Thursdays and football pre-games.

Their love of food from “back home” (Moussaka, Wat, Masala) has been trumped by a new addiction to late night Mickey D’s or the Midnight Special at the campus pizza place.

The Americanized International has become fascinated by the media and pop culture and may know more than you about current events in Celebrityland. TMZ and Perez Hilton have become a fixture in their life.

Before you know it, the refreshing style of the International Student is been overcome by Uggs (no offense, Aussies), Crocs, North Face jackets and other over-rated trends. Their hair gets a little shorter/gel-ier/lighter, their jeans more expensive.

They begin drifting from their International friends who don’t embrace the new culture and immersing themselves more and more into their new world. They don’t deny their culture completely, but don’t embrace it readily. They are Americans now and do everything in their power to fit in.  Pretty soon you can’t tell where the Americanized International came from.

You don’t truly realize the invisible lines that are drawn in society until college. You don’t have your own beliefs questioned so much as you do in college. You don’t have to push your own mental and physical limits so much as you do in college. And you (hopefully) never have to live in such close proximity with others your whole life, outside of college.

You will, invariably, encounter some things that are strange to you and you’re just gonna have to learn to deal…but here are some tips.

Open Sexuality

Maybe you’re not that sexual. Or maybe you’re just moderately sexual. Nonetheless, you’d better be OK with seeing naked bodies and hearing people do the humpty dance on the bunk above you, because sex is more than just a past time at college. From girls shaving their coochies in the ladies room to walking in on sex in the stairwell, my first year of college certainly reminded me that I wasn’t in Kansas anymore…and it’ll probably do the same for you.

Absurd Drinking Games

College, especially the first two years, is prison for your liver. Even if you enter college straight edge, like I did, you just may come out a little crooked (like I did). No, you don’t have to be down for every ridiculous and far-fetched drinking game that your new friends invite you to partake in, but at least be prepared to say NO or YES when your roomie dares you to finish a bottle of wine in the shower. (I said yes once and only once to that challenge.)

Fire Alarms From Hell

Fire alarms used to wake me up at every hour of the night. They were so invasive and annoying that my ex-boyfriend once hid in a closet instead of going outside for the drill at 4am. The downside to that? At the school where I went, I would have been fined $100 if he had been found. Fire alarms are simply part of the dorming experience. Make the best of them and take your pillow, or homework, with you.

Drugs

To put it plain and simple…college may very well be your first time encountering some drugs. I knew people in high school who did coke, but in college, it was simply everywhere. I’d walk into someone’s room to borrow notes for a class and they’d be doing a line on their desk. Of course the drugs aren’t always as common and they certainly aren’t limited to coke. You should, however, be prepared to be around drugs that you have never been around before. And if you want to make some quick enemies on campus, tell the R.A.!

Absense of Absolute Truth

No matter what you think, you’re going to meet people at school who think differently. You might think they’re going to hell, they might think you’re going to hell. You might believe in free love, they might believe in abstinence. WHATEVER. College is the breeding ground for free minds because it forces you into a situation where you have to be civil with people who believe things very different from you. So be open minded or…drop out.

College is a wonderful experience, but it can definitely be overwhelming at first…especially the 180 turn your surroundings are about to make. Be nice to everyone, always be honest, and have a good time.

(Photo from: collegepublisher.com)