13 Things I Wish I Knew as a College Freshman

I look back at my freshman year of college and constantly think of things I wish I could have told my 18-year-old self. Since I can't go back in time and let Freshman Kyle know these things, hopefully you'll take my advice and make the most out of your freshman year! Here are 13 things I wish I knew as a college freshman!

1. Join a bunch of different clubs. Most colleges have some sort of involvement fair where you can go and scope out all the clubs and organizations on campus. Go with your roommate or a floormate and go through all of the clubs. Grab a flyer for anything you find remotely interesting and attend at least one meeting. It's also good to think about joining professional or career-oriented clubs early on, even if you're not sure about what you want to do yet. It will definitely be helpful in the future, plus you will meet like-minded people.

I joined YoungLife my freshman year of college. I didn't stick with it but I definitely met some pretty cool people. Also if you can't tell, we are spelling out Hav2, which is a reference to the floor I lived on. 

2. Get to know everyone on your floor. Don't just hang out with the same group of people every night. It's fine to have a solid friend group, but things can always change and you may grow apart after you all move out of the dorm. Try to hang out with everyone because there could be some hidden gems on your floor. You never know!

This is me and nine of my friends from my floor before we went to a gallery hop that night. This was also the night that I, a girl raised in Texas, learned that just because it is March doesn't mean you can wear short sleeves. 

3. Make connections. It's never too early to start networking and it is definitely good to get the hang of it while you're still a student. If your major puts a stress on internships, try to get two or more while you're in college. Then make sure you keep in touch with fellow interns and your supervisors. Those will be good connections to have when you're looking for a post-grad job. If you want to be an overachiever, create a LinkedIn account and start connecting with people online as well.

4. Study abroad. I completely regret not studying abroad as a college student. I didn't want to be away from the city I loved, my friends or my family, so I never took that leap. But, many universities have programs that are two weeks, a month, or a full semester, so you can choose whatever makes you feel comfortable. Or uncomfortable, whatever you want.

5. It's okay if you don't get nine hours of sleep. Yes, getting a good night's sleep before an exam is important and if you have work in the morning you probably shouldn't stay up until 4 o'clock hanging out with friends. However, if your floormates are watching a movie one night or a club is going salsa dancing, go ahead and go. Don't neglect your responsibilities but it's okay if you're a little tired some days. Spontaneous nights with friends are going to make for some of the best college memories.

We literally got zero hours of sleep this night. This was when I did the 12-hour dance marathon fundraiser - a classic freshman year staple. Again, repping Hav2.

6. College might not be the best time of your life. Don't stress out if you're having a rough time. College is not always easy and it's not always fun. Don't let someone tell you that these are the best four years of your life. They could be, but that sets you up for misery after you graduate. I've had friends who had serious family or mental health issues that made college less than ideal, but that doesn't mean they won't have amazing years in their future. Everyone is different.

7. Don't neglect your schoolwork. You may get invested in a group of friends or an activity but remember that the main point of college is to go to class, prepare for a career, and learn as much as you possibly can. You want to be proud of your final GPA and you want to learn skills that will help you with your career. It's okay to have fun, but know when to make the responsible choice and go to the library instead of the party.

One of my favorite study spots was right outside my dorm room, right in the hall. I remember many fond nights of notecards, history papers, and intellectual (for a freshman) conversations. I also remember dance parties, Pokemon cards, and push-ups happening there as well. Both are good. 

8. Call your parents just to say hi. Your parents are going to miss you a ton and will constantly be wanting to check in on you and make sure you're doing well. This can be annoying, I know, but they just want the best for you. Give them a call every now and then to check in and let them know about all the fun you're having. They'll love it and you'll love that they love it.

When my parents visited me for the first time freshman year. Obligatory picture with the Brutus statue here.

9. Make use of the school's resources. Whether it is a mental health center or a career services center, your university likely has some really cool resources that you could benefit from. Don't be afraid to call the health center if you're feeling mentally unwell or if you think you're sick. They are there for those reasons. Investigate the resources your school has to offer because students often don't make use of them as much as they should.

10. If you're reluctant about a major, go in undeclared. You do not have to know what you want to do as soon as you get to college, despite what people say. I didn't even have an idea of what field I wanted to go into until the end of my sophomore year. Go in undeclared and take general education classes (that are likely required for almost any major) and find out what you like. You may discover a field you never even thought of that you fall in love with.

11. Get a planner and get organized. I wasn't the most organized my freshman year. I won't lie, one day I walked into Econ and saw more students than normal, all with notes in their laps. I had completely forgotten I had a midterm that day. I got a 56% on that exam. My point? Get a planner and as soon as you get your syllabi write down every homework, quiz and exam. Don't make the same mistake I made.

12. Go to school events. Universities tend to have public speakers, musical performances, sporting events, educational seminars and tons of other activities. These are often either very cheap or even free and they are experiences you won't get anywhere else. So take advantage of it now! I saw OAR and One Republic as well as heard Piper Kerman (author of Orange is the New Black) speak, all for free thanks to Ohio State. Some might seem lame or like a hassle but often, they're fun and completely worth it.

This is when we beat Wisconsin (I think...sports aren't really my thing) and everyone rushed the field. Obviously my seats were not close to the field so I made it down there 20 minutes later than everyone else, but still a great experience. 

13. You're going to change a lot in the next four years. It's completely expected and actually really exciting. You're going to grow up. My parents came to visit two months after I started college and said they could already see a change in me, a more mature and capable Kyle. That was just the start. You'll gain new hobbies, new friends, and new habits. It's perfectly fine to evolve and change but just make sure that the person you're changing into is a person that you are proud to be.

Good luck to all the incoming freshmen! Enjoy your next four (or five...or six) years!

Love Wins

Yesterday was a truly historic day. After years of fighting and advocating for equality, the LGBTQ+ community experienced an amazing victory. Same-sex couples are now able to get married in all 50 states! Finally!

I feel very lucky that I was alive and aware during this time so that I could fully experience this win. Yesterday I woke up and hopped on the computer to do some job applications and was instantly bombarded by the good news on every form of social media. It was truly beautiful seeing all the support that the LGBTQ+ community was receiving and all the excitement of those who are directly affected by the ruling.

Something that I really enjoyed was seeing how many organizations and companies were changing profile pictures to rainbows or tweeting about the victory. While I am slightly skeptical that the strong presence of support was for their benefit, I am still happy all the same. In my opinion, support is support.

Naturally, I went out and celebrated with my girlfriend and friends. After posting my excitement all over the Internet, Mira and I went out for a nice lunch and a bit of window shopping. Later that night, we met up with a few of our friends and went out for celebratory drinks.

I'm so happy that I was alive to witness something this monumental. However, the fact that LGBTQ+ people receiving marriage equality is so monumental is also a sad thought. Basic equality should not be something that we have to strive for, in any sense. The amount of discrimination, prejudice, and hatred that is still present in this country is appalling. But yesterday was not the time to get wrapped up in those injustices, it was a day to celebrate. 

Marriage equality is a beautiful thing and I am thrilled that happy, same-sex couples are now able to have the same right as straight American couples. I loved seeing pictures of the first couples getting married in each county, some who had been together for over 50 years! But unfortunately, this ruling doesn't magically change everything. There will still be discrimination. It is still possible for LGBTQ+ people to get fired from their workplace simply for being who they are. There is still a disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ youth who are rejected by their families and sent to live on the streets. There are still people who think it is okay to spread hate because someone has a different belief or lifestyle than they do. There is still a lot that needs to be done. 

But the fact that there is still more work that needs to be done should not diminish yesterday's victory. It was a truly historic day and I will never forget the support and love that I got to witness. Love is love.

Bring Spring into Your Home

It has been a long and cold winter, but it’s finally spring! Yes, there is still the occasional chilly day, and no, 50 degrees isn’t exactly tropical. However, if you’re anything like me, you’ve been waiting for this time of year since the ball dropped on New Year’s. So how do we speed up the process of sunny days and blooming flowers? You bring spring indoors, into your own home! Here are four home décor ideas to help you welcome spring:

Garden Wreaths

When you think of spring, you think of flowers. A floral garden wreath will bring a springtime pop into your home. Garden wreaths with vibrant colors will instantly bring warmth and a spring feeling into your home. You may opt for something softer, where pastels are utilized which can create a dreamy and romantic feeling. Williams-Sonoma has a variety of garden wreaths to match any color scheme you desire.

Throw Pillows

Crate & Barrel suggests lightening up your home with cool blues, bright oranges and yellows, and fresh greens. A quick and easy way to bring spring into your home is by decorating with throw pillows. A simple pop of color in a springtime hue will lighten up a room and help bring your home out of winter.

Spring Scents

Bath and Body Works has dozens of candles that will remind you of spring break and tropical vacations. There’s Tiki Beach, Island Waters, Caribbean Escape and Pineapple Mango. Bath and Body Works also released dozens of Hawaii inspired scents like Honolulu Sun, Oahu Coconut Sunset, and Sweet Maui Mango. You can also fill your kitchen and bathrooms with new, bright, and fruity soaps like Garden Strawberries, Spring Poppies and Picnics, and Springtime and Clementines.

Vibrant Vases

If you’re on a budget, you can add a bit of springtime with something as simple a colorful vase. Crate and Barrel’s new vases in their designated spring colors can liven up a room and bring spring indoors. Bright blues, oranges, and yellows will give off a springtime vibe and can be a pop of vibrant color for any room in your home.

My apartment definitely has some colorful bowls and springtime scents. What’s your favorite way to decorate for springtime? 

California, Here We Come

Hello! Just a few weeks ago I went on an amazing vacation to San Francisco. I hadn't been to California since I was about eight or nine so I was really excited to be experiencing such a cool environment - and some warm(ish) weather. My girlfriend, Mira, and I took tons of pictures and it would be a shame not to share what we did for our five day vacation.

We woke up super early on Wednesday for a 7 am flight, so naturally neither of us was in a great mood. That quickly changed though because as we were in the unbelievably slow security line, I turned around and saw one of my favorite musicians, in the flesh, checking his bags and his ukulele. Tyler Joseph from Twenty One Pilots was only 20 feet from me. I shouldn't have been surprised, he's from Columbus but I get star-struck very easily. Mira and I said a quick and hopefully not too annoying hello and he went to the front of security.

Two flights later, we arrived in San Francisco just around lunchtime. The plan was for Mira's sister-in-law, Heather, to pick us up from the airport. I had never met Heather or her husband (Mira's brother) before so I was a little nervous. But she pulled up to the curb we were standing at in her little black slug bug blasting hip-hop music and I knew it would be alright.

We didn't waste a minute on this vacation. We went to Japantown directly from the airport. We had some delicious food and then wandered around into the surrounding shops. Mira and Heather were pretty consumed by Pokemon, anime, and manga, so a lot of this outing for me was just enjoying the ride and watching them nerd out a bit. After some shopping we went and got crepes which were delicious and adorable. Yes, adorable; they had faces! Then we did some sight-seeing and hit up the classics: The Golden Gate Bridge and that huge hill that you drive up and when you look back you can see half the city? Then when you drive down you're terrified and feel like the car will tip over? That was cool. That night I also met Mira's brother, Jason and his and Heather's dog, Jinro. I had my first ever In-N-Out Burger and I have to say that I think it's pretty overrated. It was good but there's so much hype over it and I'm not sure why. But it was still a great first day in the city!

                                           
The next morning we did some more sight-seeing. California is so beautiful. Heather, Mira, and I drove around and went to the top of a hill where we could look down and see a bunch of houses surrounded by water and on the other side trees and hills and mountains. We did a little bit of "hiking" or what I like to call walking, and then hit up the Golden Gate Park Japanese Tea Garden. It wasn't very large, but everywhere you looked it was stunning. That night we went to Fisherman's Wharf. We ate dinner at a place that made bread in the shape of tons of different animals. I seriously wonder how people come up with things like this. The wharf also had an arcade that had a ton of old games, so we spent some quarters in there and walked around with all the other tourists. Each weeknight when we got home we spent hanging out with Jason. He had to work during the week so we had to make the most of the times we saw him at night. The four of us talked and played video games and played with Jinro and just enjoyed each other's company. I really liked spending time with Heather and Jason and Mira. I hope that happens more in the future.

Friday rolled around and the weather was beautiful. I felt so lucky to be enjoying 60 degree weather when my friends and family where suffering with inches of snow back home. Ironically, Heather, Mira and I went to the beach that day. It was obviously too cold to swim or anything but Rodeo Beach is beautiful, so we just walked around, people-watched, and enjoyed the view. After we left the beach we went to the Walt Disney museum. It was basically a tour of his life and successes. My favorite part was seeing all the old sketches of characters like Mickey Mouse and Snow White. Then we headed over to Union Square, the apparent tourist hub. It was packed with tourists and I know I could have happily spent hours there but since we could go to those stores back home, we didn't stay very long. That night the four of us went to a sports bar for dinner and hung out around the apartment the rest of the night.

Saturday morning we slept in a bit since Jason didn't have to go into work. When we got around to lunch, Heather made a Korean soup that I love and we pretty much devoured it. We were okay with a light lunch though because for dinner we had reservations at a fancy restaurant at 4. Heather and Jason had a $150 gift card from Mira's parents so we were going to eat like kings later. That day we spent touring Jason's work and hiking at Muir Woods. I love the feeling you get when you immerse yourself in that sort of environment. I'm not really in shape and I'm not athletic in the slightest but hiking with beautiful nature around you is going to be enjoyable even if your feet and legs hurt. We stayed for a few hours and then had to get going for our early dinner reservation. We went to a place called Buckeye Roadhouse, where all of us got filet mignon. Delicious. We also splurged and got creme brulee. That night when we got home and watched Bridesmaids which I think Jason reluctantly agreed to see, but I'm pretty sure he liked it. How can you not like Bridesmaids?

The next day was our last. Sunday, we got ready and piled in the car for an hour and a half drive to Mountain View, California. Jason has a friend who works at Google and I really wanted a tour. Ever since I saw the movie The Internship, I thought Google would be a really fun place to work. I had also seen a documentary which showed all the benefits of working at Google, so I was naturally curious, considering I will be job hunting in a few months. We weren't allowed to see certain parts of the campus, but it was really cool seeing the Google bikes everywhere and people taking a work break by playing beach volleyball. Those people are living the dream. We spent a few hours in Mountain View and once we finally got back home we went to a Mexican restaurant just a few minutes from Jason and Heather's place. We fell asleep not too long after we got home from dinner; we had to rest up for an early day of travelling.

I couldn't have dreamed up a better trip to California. First of all, plane tickets were actually cheap and we didn't have to pay for a hotel. Second, Heather took us to so many cool places that Mira and I would have never known about. But mainly, it wasn't just a tourist vacation, it was a chance for me to meet and spend time with Mira's brother and sister-in-law who are both really great people.

This was quite a lengthy first blog post, but I figured I may as well write about something personal for the first post. Hope you liked it!