What I Wish I Knew as a Freshman

I wrote a blog with this exact same title back in my freshman spring. Now, in my last junior year term, I giggled reading it because so much has changed since then. So much transformation happens at college, especially at Carleton, in the best way possible.

So, without further ado, with two extra years under my belt after writing the original post, here are the most important things I (personally) think any incoming Carleton freshman should know.

Your social groups may change, and that’s totally okay.

There’s a lot of pressure to find your forever friends during freshman fall term. And I don’t know about you, but throughout high school, I always heard: in college, you’ll find the friends that last you a lifetime. And while that can definitely be true (I’ve made lifelong friendships during my time here), a lot of first and second years might feel like they need to rush this process. I’ve met some of my closest, most aligned friends during my third year, and I am constantly meeting new people I absolutely love.

I never felt a huge urgency to “find my people” right away, because I trusted that the right people would find me, and they did. And they will for you, too. If I could tell freshmen worried about making friends one thing, it’d be this: your people are out there. Be open. Follow your interests, don’t feel like you need to “act” a certain way, and they will find you.

Put yourself out there and talk to your professors. Seriously.

If I were to pick one thing really great that I did as a freshman, it would be this. As a first-gen, low-income student, I showed up with the intention of soaking up every resource available, and that started with office hours.

You don’t need to be confused about class material or have questions on the homework to go to office hours. I wanted to learn from my professors as people. Now, I babysit for professors I used to be intimidated by, have made lifelong connections, and even joke about inviting some of them to my wedding.

Profs at Carleton are brilliant, kind, and genuinely want to know you. Let them. It will open up so many connections and opportunities. 

Let’s be real… you might meet your hubby.

Okay, okay… I mostly just wanted that headline to grab your attention.

But the real point is this: you’re here to grow into yourself. I remember some freshmen (…and actually, select people from all years…) feeling pressure to date or “find someone”. During New Student Week, you’ll even hear Carls Marry Carls! a lot.

However, whether or not romance enters the picture, your priority is you and your journey here, so don’t feel like you need to spend energy trying to find someone else. Cultivate your passions, your voice, your weird hobbies. If love comes along, great. But don’t stress about it. My current partner came into my life at a time when I wasn’t searching! And for all of my other coupled friends, they had the same experience.

There is so much cool stuff to do here. Take advantage of it.

Where else can you go birdwatching at 6 a.m., take yoga or aikido classes, learn guitar, live in interest housing, pet dogs, play a sport, learn philosophy, and volunteer— all in the same week?

Carleton is full of hidden gems and free resources. Take advantage of them. You might never again have this kind of access to so much variety, support, and exploration.

Cultivate a you outside of school.

Maybe this is my almost-senior-year wisdom speaking, but I wish I’d let myself breathe more during freshman year. I spent a lot of time worrying about grades, internships, and “figuring it all out.” If you’re a prospective or admitted Carleton student, you are most likely a very high-achieving and driven human. Trust in that. It will work out for you.

Also, since Carleton is a small school (which comes with many pros), sometimes you can forget there is a whole world out there. Things do come together, and stress can make the journey so much harder. Remind yourself to breathe deeply, smell those roses (or your Friday Flowers), since you are never going to get these 4 years back.

Emma is a junior Psychology major with a Neuroscience minor, originally from NorCal and now living in Miami, FL. Needless to say, she’s happiest when the sun is out and there’s no snow on the ground… which, in Minnesota, isn’t always the case. She stays energized and positive by diving into her comps and doing academic research in the Perception Lab. You can usually find her lifting weights at the Rec Center or sipping matcha at her favorite cafe downtown (Little Joy… and only Little Joy). As a first-gen, low-income student in TRIO and a former peer leader at the GSC, Emma is passionate about community and support systems on campus. She’s also one of the few Brazilians at Carleton. Como vai?