For many first-years, the start of college feels weird.
You unpack your boxes, your parents say goodbye and you find yourself standing in a room that doesn’t quite feel like yours yet. You wonder how long it will be until Georgetown doesn’t feel like a random place.
Fortunately, it won’t take long.
A successful campus life doesn’t come from having everything figured out by the end of your orientation. It comes from making a lot of small decisions that slowly turn the campus around you into your second home.
Some of those small decisions are straightforward. In your dorm room, prioritize comfort. Bring a mattress topper and a rug. Don’t leave your walls bare: Put up some posters or decorations. Lamps and LED lights are great. Bring some winter clothes in case it gets cold early on. Please, please try to be clean. Tidy your stuff, clean up messes and please wear shower shoes. Your roommate can thank me later.
But other decisions are less obvious. For many of you, this will be your first time having a roommate. That means sharing your living space with a stranger who might have grown up with different habits. They might like studying in complete silence, while you want to invite others over. They might want the lights off at 10 p.m. and wake up at 7 a.m. Or stay up until 3 a.m. talking on the phone, as you try to get enough sleep for your exam the next day.
The biggest mistake you can make is letting problems go unaddressed. The earlier you can talk to your roommate about conflict, the easier it is to fix. At the beginning of the semester, talk about your preferences, schedules and who takes out the trash. If you and your roommate don’t become lifelong friends, that doesn’t mean you failed. But try to make the most of the year that you spend together.
Speaking of friends, try to be open. That could mean literally keeping your door open for people to wander in or agreeing to get lunch with someone you just met. If you’re comfortable, sit with people you don’t know at the dining halls. Join clubs that align with your interests. You could very well meet some of your closest friends because you introduced yourself or just tried something new.
As you get settled in, you might find yourself looking for a job. Georgetown students can work almost anywhere on campus, including academic departments, Lauinger Library and The Corp. You can also participate in a federal work-study program or venture into the shops and stores in the Georgetown neighborhood.
Lastly, and most importantly, always seek balance. College isn’t a competition to be the busiest person who joins 10 clubs, goes to every party and has an internship lined up. But it also isn’t about just staying in your dorm room whenever you have free time. Don’t stress too much about your academics, but don’t skip every class. Leave small pockets of time for spontaneous dinners or side quests. Remember, you’re only in college once, so enjoy yourself.
If all goes well, your first year at Georgetown will be exciting, occasionally overwhelming and meaningful. Time does fly, and you’ll be a sophomore before you know it.