There’s a lot when it comes to figuring out the ins and outs of college life. Obviously, it’s important to know where the best study spots are on campus, or what are the best restaurants in town, or where you can get a donut at all hours of the night. These are all important, don’t get me wrong! But, never did I think when I came to college, I would have to explain so many different aspects of college life to my family.
College is so exciting and new. When I was a freshman, I was so eager to figure out what to do and where to go. It was all new and it was all about me. College is a time to figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life, and it’s a time for you to slowly understand what being an adult is like. Now that I’m a junior and have almost three years of undergrad under my belt, I’ve found out some things about college life that I had to explain to my family. Here’s a few of them:
Tuition: That dreaded word that no one likes to hear. I know…it’s wild that we have to pay for our awesome experiences, but it’s a constant in college life. Now, tuition is a tricky one because it’s never the same! The amount of credit hours you take change every semester, which makes your tuition change, and sometimes when parents see this they don’t know what’s going on. I promise you, it’s all going to be just fine. This past semester I had to explain to my mom that my tuition was so much higher compared to other semesters because I was taking 18 credit hours as compared to my usual 15. We all like constants in our lives but unfortunately, tuition isn’t one of them, and that’s okay!
Phone Calls: Every time my parents call, I’m usually in class, a meeting, and unable to talk. Now, your family just wants to check up on you because they want you to know how much they love you, but sometimes when they call it isn’t the most convenient time. My schedule is ever changing, and my family learned that when I had time to call I would, or if they called and I didn’t pick up, it wasn’t because I didn’t love them anymore. I’ll admit, sometimes I forget to call my mom back, but it’s just a part of growing up. A great tip is to set specific times in the week to have phone calls with one another! This helps everyone because then families don’t get annoyed when their student doesn’t answer, and students don’t have to stop what they’re doing to answer.
Bear Wear: Now, I can’t tell you how much BearWear I own but I can tell you how excited I am to wear my school colors. The first time I came home for a break, I think I brought back several new Missouri State t-shirts (some of which I bought and some of which were given to me – YAY free stuff!). My parents looked at me and just couldn’t understand why on earth I had so much Missouri State gear. My personal motto is “everyone looks good in maroon”, so of course I was going to have six or seven different maroon shirts. I needed variety! Being immersed into a new community is overwhelming but exciting too. BearWear is a great way for students to feel connected to campus, and to score some free swag on BearWear Fridays. So, if your student seems to only wear Missouri State gear, that’s okay. They’re really excited about being a part of something new!
P.S. Mom. If you’re reading this, I bought two new shirts at the Bookstore Thursday. GO BEARS!
I love being able to teach my family about Missouri State and its traditions. It’s a part of me that I get to make my own, and then share with my family. Now, college is a hard transition for both students and families. There are a lot of changes, but it’s about the experiences that come with them. Missouri State is a great place to connect with others and find yourself in the process. My experience on campus has been a learning process for both myself and my family, but after both of us figured out how to handle the new changes, we both understood one another better.
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for spring break. Catch me next time as I talk about what life for a college student is like over a break (so essentially, I’m doing research as I sit on the couch and watch Netflix).
~Lauren
Lauren VanNess is a member of the Missouri State University ’19 – Honors College with a Major: Public Relations and a Minor: Marketing; University Ambassadors; Welcome and Traditions Coordinator and Leader for SOAR 2018; Gamma Phi Beta Sorority; and the Vicki Stanton Public Speaking Showcase | Awards Coordinator 2017-2018.