Tips for an independent college student

Going to college is undeniably a huge adjustment in someone’s lifestyle no matter where they decide to go. However, if you’re like me, you knew everything was going to be okay no matter where you ended up. At least that was my thought process when choosing a school, I figured I would have fun practically anywhere.

I am very blessed with the first impressions I had entering college. I didn’t find it hard to make friends and instantly gravitated towards people in my first class. From there, all it took was one weekend out with my new friends and I was hooked on college. As I look back on this time of my life and think about why my experience could be so different from many others’, I automatically target my independence. Independence is extremely important, especially for us young people, because it can be even harder to become independent the older you become and the more dependent you become on other people. So here’s a shortlist of ways to harness that independence of yours and practice doing so to make yourself a stronger, independent person!

Don’t call mom/dad every time something goes wrong; try to figure it out on your own first.

I can still remember the feeling of annoyance that came over me every time one of my friends (really one in particular) would call/text their parent about EVERYTHING. And I get it, sometimes people have a really hard time detaching themselves from their home environment so readily but you can’t figure out a laundry machine on your own? C’mon.

Set weekly spending allowances for yourself.

This is actually something I wish I had done myself. Trust me, it sucks asking your parents for money and always having that sense of guilt after is not what you want. So, try to be smart with your money as early on as you can, so you don’t feel like a bum to your own parents.

Learn how to cook.

This is an important skill to have regardless if you’re in college or not. I’ll never forget that 5 a.m. fire alarm on a Sunday morning freshman year because someone didn’t add water to their Easy Mac. Don’t be the person that burns their macaroni! You can learn fast and easy recipes online and it will really help you out in the long run.

Don’t worry so much.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. Heck, even three years later I don’t have it all figured out nor do I plan to right away, but I’m okay with that and so should you. Do dumb, crazy things and learn from your mistakes. Don’t leave any room for regrets in your first year of college, one day you’ll look back and wonder where all the time went.

I thank the universe all the time for the independence that has been bestowed upon myself. I believe a lot of events throughout my life shaped my independence for the best including not so happy occurrences such as my parents divorce. In the end, everything happens for a reason and I was able to blossom as new independent version of myself. You can turn the negative events in your life into something positive as well; I believe in you!

Photo By: Jake Maloney