So for the past 6 months, I’ve been completely neglecting my poor little blog. When I was leaving for college last year I thought I would be blogging 24/7, because I didn’t have a whole lot of hours in comparison to some courses…(understatement of the century :P), but I never actually got down to it. The reason why I neglected it was, simply, I was just having too much fun living the college dream! So listen up folks, I’m gonna give you a little run down of my past year, and those of you who are about to enter this new chapter in your lives and start college this September, prepare yourselves for one of the greatest years of your life. (That’s all the cheesiness finished, I promise.)
What they don’t tell you about college:
- You actually have to do work..?!
I know, I know! You’re just after finishing the Leaving Cert, ready to chill for the Summer and breeze into college come September. Life is easy sailing for here on out. Ehhhhhh….not so much. Surprisingly enough, we actually have to do work in college. It’s not all about drinking cans in the park on a sunny afternoon, skipping lectures to creep on the Freshers Footballers training and pulling in Coppers while absolutely hammered. (Now don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of time for that too!) But I’ll never forget in Week 2, when we were told we had to have an assignment about Irish left-wing politics completed by the following week, a little bit of me died inside. Don’t forget that we’re here to get an education, not just to go on this piss three times a week! Everything in moderation….two nights a week works just as well 😉
- Your lecturers didn’t come down the last rain shower
As smart as we may think we are, managing to get to college and even get the points to do as course, we can never out-smart our lecturers. They are strange creatures, all-knowing beings that lurk around corridors and actually notice when we don’t turn up for class. An email or note saying that we were ‘unable to attend class due to family problems’ is translated as ‘I just did the walk-of-shame and I was ridiculously hungover at 9am, there was no way I was getting up for that class.’ Don’t try fool them, it never works and you’re a cert to be in the bad books for the rest of semester!
- Your roommates are not always gonna be what you expected
Take it from someone who has had two different roommates this year, you definitely don’t know what you’re in for until your sharing half your home with them. Prepare yourself for them using your stuff, eating your food, leaving the bathroom untidy, staying up ridiculously late and getting up at the crack of dawn. Sometimes you can be lucky and get put in with the soundest lad/lass in Ireland, but chances are that’s pretty unlikely. Go in with an open mind and try not to kill them in their sleep!
- Just learn to cook
Don’t go to college only knowing how to cook pasta and noodles. You will die of carb-overload and no one wants to see you spitting chunks of pesto pasta at 3am after a hard night out! Just learn. Simple as.
What to be ridiculously, incredibly, supercalifragilisticexpialidociously excited for:
- Meeting a completely different crowd
One of the great things about college is meeting tons of new people. In first year, everyone is in the same boat, we all want to make friends, meet as many new people as possible and create a good group of people to be around. You’ll meet people from every walk of life, whether it is the absolutely minted ,Foxrock-native or the biggest bogger from the ‘Whest.’ (who includes a ‘h’ in every word they say!?) It really is a great opportunity to talk to people you would never even have considered speaking to before, and who knows, they could end up your best friend.
- General college banter
Between organised events, like balls, sports days, shows, gigs, trips and having the banter on campus, it’s one of the greatest times in college. Fresher’s and Rag week in particular were the highlights for me. Events on during the day, skipping lectures, heading into the clubs at night, there is such a good buzz around campus and it really rubs off on everyone around.
- On the beer!
Sure, I could hardly skip one of the most important aspects of college now could I?! Of course heading into nightclubs is a key aspect of every college student’s life. Possibly the greatest way to bond with your class or new friends! Not only will you find out all about their lives in a game of ‘Never have I ever,’ but nothing brings people closer together than belting out the chorus to C’est la vie in the back of a taxi!
Definitely one of the greatest years of my life, so for all you heading to college for the first time this year, get ready for a serious experience! 
Orlaithfarrell's Blog 