Read “10 Things I’d Tell My Freshman Self” (you know, for boys) here.
If I had a time machine, I would have entered my freshman year knowing that it’s the best time ever, even with the many, many mistakes I made. However, if I could have, I would have avoided certain boys (the manwhore, the southern gentleman, the frat star), certain drinks (tequila, vodka sours, Jäger bombs), and certain outfit choices (spandex, Forever 21 in excess, sandals at night). You live and you learn. Only now do I know how to drink without vomming, how important my sisters and sorority are, and how incredible it is to experience everything for the first time.
Here’s what I wish I knew then:
1. It doesn’t matter what people think of you half as much as you imagine. Do everything once, twice if you like it.
2. Don’t stress about finding dates for parties. It’s slightly more fun with a potential MO by your side, but you’ll have a blast with your sisters, regardless.
3. You will always see whoever you hooked up with the next day, so be prepared. Hopefully he’s still cute in the harsh light of the dining hall.
4. Embrace ridiculously long pre-games. Sometimes drunk sing-alongs and gossip sessions are better than the actual night out.
5. You will get in trouble for posting scandalous pictures from your exchange. It’s worth it.
6. Recruitment is one of the most stressful experiences ever, but it always works itself out in the end. The house you end up in will be your home for the next four years, so keep calm and rush on.
7. If you switch from tequila to vodka, you won’t spend your mornings convinced you’re dying.
8. Hooking up with that guy on campus who’s been with absolutely everyone is never a good idea, no matter how drunk you are.
9. The vat is about a million times stronger than you think.
10. The pictures of you chugging a bottle of Burnett’s, showing off your Hanky Pankys, and dancing on a pool table seem funny at the time. They still are.
11. Don’t be embarrassed when you have a ridiculously sloppy MO at your first mixer. It’s a rite of passage, and you practically can’t be initiated without it.
12. Sometimes the tailgate is more fun than the game, especially when you’ve had so much to drink you can’t tell which team is winning.
13. Let people set you up for parties. It can go horribly awry or be absolutely amazing. Either way, it will be a good story.
14. The girls on your floor are fun, but not all of them will be there for you forever. That’s what your sisters are for.
15. Value your time at home, even though being away from college is ridiculously boring.
16. Have fun with boys, but don’t ditch your girls for a good time.
17. Don’t feel bad when you’re too hungover to make it to happy hour.
18. That cute, nice, polite boy who dresses so well? He’s probably gay, but feel free to give it the ole college try.
19. You are going to get sick constantly, an unfortunate side effect of MOing strangers, drinking obscene amounts of alcohol, and going out every night until the sun comes up. Always keep blue Powerade handy.
20. You may feel nervous about your sorority, but the next four years will be incredible. You won’t be able to (or want to) imagine college without your sisters.
Nice Move256
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Fleur de Lilly
Fleur de Lilly (@margaretabrams) is a contributing writer for Total Sorority Move and Post Grad Problems. When she's not corrupting her big's baby, she can be found decoding texts, gravitating towards raised surfaces, and spending time with her gentleman caller, Jack Daniels. She loves Lilly, Louisiana, and her lineage.
@margaretabrams
@margaretabrams
