September 3, 2024 (2:46 PM)

7 min read

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Graphic by Earl Geibriel Dicipulo

What’s your freshman cannonball moment?

Entering campus with fresh new clothes, greeting the guards with “good mornings,” lining up at the seemingly long cashier to pay for your tuition and fees, getting lost in buildings, asking strangers about their programs, and spotting random crushes in the hallways—these are the little things that every freshman experiences. 

From the first time being away from home and commuting alone to the first time getting drunk, and even the first time getting a low mark on your favorite subject—these, and many more, define the first year of college, opening doors to countless new encounters.    

Experiencing these is a cannonball moment for every Atenean. While a cannonball moment refers to being transformed by new perspectives after enduring a painful experience, every freshman also encounters different episodes that will eventually become what we call just a phase. Now, we delve deeper into what went wrong and how it went wrong, from social, physical, and even financial problems for our freshmen to take note of. 

Here are eight common freshman mistakes that all, if not – most, Atenean students go through. 

  1. The eat-out everyday

“Deserve ko ‘to!”

With the university’s location, restaurants, food stalls, and snack bars are everywhere, and we cannot deny how the food we crave is not easily available to the point that when you go out of the campus, you will be greeted by a stretch of food stores offering scrumptious meals. While indulging in these types of dining places is essential for meeting our physical needs, freshmen often overlook the nutritional and financial implications. Students tend to disregard how often they eat out, not knowing its effects, both financially and physically. While these restaurants portray themselves as student-friendly, appealing as affordable and convenient, students must reevaluate their financial decisions to maximize resources like bringing home-cooked meals or choosing more affordable eating spots. 

But on a lighter note, don’t forget to take yourself out sometimes because no one else will unless you have someone to take you out.  

  1. Sleep deprivation paired with caffeine addiction

As the famous saying goes, “Coffee now, palpitate later.” 

Juggling different GE courses entails completely packed schedules for every freshman, and one of the most common rookies (even higher years) mistakes is sleep depriving themselves while depending on caffeine. With the rapid rise of multiple coffee shops near campus, the price of a single coffee is now as low as Php 39. With this, many freshmen depend on having coffee on an empty stomach first thing in the morning and coffee to combat sleepiness at night, which will undoubtedly result in getting startled easily, restlessness during classes, increased nervousness during recits, and even insomnia. While prioritizing our academic responsibility is important, one must never forget to take care of their lifestyle as this can also have a ripple effect on our health. 

  1. Elevator Moments

I love the smiths.

Sorry?

I said I love the smiths.

Only this isn’t a (500) days of summer type of thing. Steps on how to make everyone hate you first thing in the morning? Simple. Use the elevator only to go to the second and third floors. While this “unspoken–spoken rule” has been a hot topic of debate many times already, some students still do not know the basic etiquette of using the elevator. So freshmen and other years take note: be sensitive enough to use the stairs if you are only going for the second and third floors, most importantly in rush hours, and, of course, with the exception of those persons who are incapable of using the stairs. 

Bonus tip: Utilize the hold, close, and open buttons to save time and prevent injuries 😉

  1. Waiting for your classmates to send you notes instead of jotting them down on your own.

With the rapid advancement of technology, visual aids for lectures are now easily displayed using projectors. We know how hard it is to catch up with your instructor’s teaching pace, noting down whatever is presented on screen and, at the same time, listening to whatever they may be saying. When we can no longer catch up with the pacing, we tend to depend on taking pictures or asking our classmates to send us a picture of the presentation instead of writing it down on our own.  

How many photos of your instructor’s presentation did you capture but end up not reviewing? We guess there is more than you can justify. You are so real for that, Kween!

  1. Comparison is the thief of joy

How can a person know everything in high school but nothing in college?

Entering college seems too overwhelming, especially when you’re a perfectionist overachiever. Receiving the first grade lower than what you expected is one of the most heartbreaking things to experience in college, and this is even worse when you compare your grades to your peers’  grades. Pondering to yourself how many sleepless nights it takes to get by a quiz or exam just to end up with a mark you are not satisfied with. 

It is inevitable not to compare ourselves to others’ progress—whether in grades, relationships, finances, or any other aspect. But know that we are all different; we have different backgrounds, opportunities, weaknesses, and strengths, which is why the only person you can compare yourself to is yourself – so strive to be the better you.

  1. Not taking your minor subjects seriously

“Okay na na uy, minor ra bitaw.”

Many students often think that GE courses are “just” minor subjects and should not be taken too seriously since they have nothing to do with one’s program. This stigma has been going around for so long that freshmen almost always neglect the significance of GE courses, resulting in failure and retaking them. Although one may see them as pa-major, we should remind ourselves that these minor subjects are essential in shaping our values and in our holistic growth as Ateneans. So don’t forget to attend your ASF, NSTP, or any other GE classes!

  1. Not finding your potential (not joining student organizations)

School, bahay, dorm – repeat the cycle.

College is hard; this is a fact. Many students think that being in university is always about academics – studying until dawn, familiarizing concepts, memorizing, and so on. While we know how difficult it is to manage different courses or subjects, it is given that focus is the key to achieving your desired career. However, it is also important to find groups or organizations that enable you to unleash your potential. Joining organizations could help establish leadership skills, foster community service, and create meaningful relationships. Whether the organization you want to apply to is aligned with or completely opposite from your chosen course, it is never too late to explore and meet people with the same vision and goal. 

  1. Too many organizations

BS Orgs, Minor in Acads. 

Contrary to the previous mistake of not finding your potential by not joining organizations, a common freshman mistake is joining too many organizations and ending up not managing their time properly. It takes a serious commitment to juggle academic responsibilities while securing positions for organizations, and many people often overlook decisions, resulting in losing their focus on studying and forgetting the main essence of joining organizations. Know your priorities, reassess your capabilities, and do not underestimate tasks if you want to balance your time and energy well. In short, hinay-hinay lang!

We set foot into the new school year with different feelings of excitement, nervousness, and eagerness to learn and grow. With students coming from different places, schools, and cultures, everyone has their firsts in everything. All these so-called  “rookie mistakes” are valid as we are still navigating our university life, but each one teaches us a valuable lesson. Whichever year you are, may it be your first, second, third, fourth, or fifth; problems, challenges, and mistakes will always arise. But as Ateneans, we consider all the struggles and experiences we face – the good and the bad – as a part of the journey that will lead us somewhere where we want ourselves to be. 



End the silence of the gagged!

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