As the end of another academic year draws nearer, the members of this editorial board have been reflecting on the rhythms of college life; the exciting new beginnings, the inevitable mistakes and the subtle self-assurance that can only develop with time and patience. For those who are close to embarking on their college journey, it can be nearly impossible to know where to begin or what to expect. To help with this transition, we’ve accumulated advice from various members of this editorial board as they offer candid reflections on the lessons they’ve learned so far. Whether it’s navigating the ups-and-downs of new friendships, figuring out your major or simply finding your people, it is the hope of this board that these words can serve as a guide — and, most importantly, a reminder that no one has it all figured out, but we’re all learning alongside one another.

Senior advice:

It’s probably safe to say that most seniors have undergone dramatic development since they first stepped foot onto Brandeis’ campus four years ago. Over your career at Brandeis, one can experience extensive growth, maturation and success, as long as you embrace those opportunities. Challenge yourself with classes that are out of your comfort zone, in areas that you know little about and that use different parts of your brain. One — very humanities based — member of this editorial board randomly decided to take an economics course to broaden their educational horizons, and is now graduating with a business minor. Brandeis is unique in that students don’t apply for specific majors or colleges within the University. Take advantage of the liberal arts education and become as well-rounded of a student as you can. It isn’t always about becoming an expert in one area, but about gaining exposure to many areas and developing critical thinking skills. Plus, you might end up surprising yourself and finding a new major or even career path that you hadn’t previously considered.

Study abroad if it is at all feasible. Brandeis has an amazing Office of Study Abroad, and they truly do so much to make studying abroad accessible to all students, regardless of major, financial background, prior travel experience and more. Even if spending a semester abroad means that you have to rework your academic plan — taking a class over the summer or having a heavier workload before you leave or after you return — it’s worth it. Going abroad in the summer is also a great option. Studying abroad might just end up being your most meaningful, unique and memorable semester, filled with unparalleled growth and exposure — if not the most meaningful few months of your young adult life. 

Finally, remember that nothing is that serious. Many seniors will probably agree that they have spent too much of their short college years overthinking social interactions, decisions, internships and more. In hindsight, those stressed out underclassmen could use a voice whispering to them “it’s really not that serious.” The friend group drama is not that serious, course registration is not that serious, feeling like you are the only one who doesn’t have their life planned out is not that serious, the quirky Brandeis traditions that you are hesitant to participate in out of fear of being perceived are not that serious. Just remember, at the end of these short four years, you will wish you spent less time stressing over the small things and more time soaking up everything your college years have to offer. Before you know it, you will be sitting in Gosman Sports and Convocation Center with your whole class waiting for your name to be called at graduation. 

As cliche as this may sound, one of the most important things to prioritize when beginning university are your friends. Like it or not, we are social beings, and, when we’re suddenly thrust into a new and unfamiliar environment, we need the kind of community and support that can only be offered by our peers more than ever before. That’s not to say that friendships will come easily; however, it’s nearly impossible to find one person who, by their final year, has retained every single friend made during their first. But that’s an integral part of the experience; people grow and change, and they should — this is the point in your lives when you will grow and change more in four years than you ever have before. That means, however, that people will grow in different directions than you, that they will change more than can be reconciled and that you will inevitably experience “bumps” along the road of friendships. Never let yourself become discouraged; you will have moments of involuntary solitude and you will feel lonely. But remember that this is an institution boasting an undergraduate population of over 3,500; Your people are out there, but you have to be patient when trying to find them.

It’s also worth noting that some of the most important people in your college life may not arrive until your second, third or even final year. Sometimes, it takes time to find the right people: the ones who make you feel safe, challenged, seen and comfortable. You’re not “late” if you don’t click with anyone in the first month, or even in the first semester because — especially at Brandeis — there’s no single “college experience” that you need to live up to. Be open to unlikely friendships, be kind and patient — especially with yourself — and trust that connection often grows when and where you least expect it.

College is often described in regards to the academics, the prestige or the aesthetic of the campus. In the end, however, it’s the people who make the school. Classes will blur together, buildings become familiar and everyone settles into routines, but the friendships formed at Brandeis are what shape the experience most deeply. Some connections will be instant; others will take time. Some will fade, and a few will last well beyond graduation. What matters most is finding those who are there for you through both the quiet and chaotic moments. These relationships, more than any resume point or transcript, become the true legacy of a college education by its end.

Junior advice:

Moving into the latter half of your time at Brandeis as a junior, it is important to remember that it is never too late to get involved. Although it can feel overwhelming or difficult to join a new club or try a new activity, this is a great time to do it. As a junior, you’ve likely already established your daily routines and your closest friendships, but make yourself uncomfortable and do something you never would have thought to become involved in. Brandeis has a ton of clubs and extracurriculars to become involved in, there is genuinely something for each and every person. The best part about all of these clubs and organizations is that people at Brandeis are incredibly welcoming. It is never too late to find your community, even if it is only for two years. Instead of spending time dwelling on the things you wish you could’ve done in your time in college, make an effort to do those things as soon as you can. Even if you find that the activity you choose is not for you, there’s always time to try again (even if you start something entirely new).

Sophomore advice:

For sophomores almost at the halfway point through their time at Brandeis, there are a lot of lessons already learned and many still to come. One thing you should consider as you start your career at Brandeis is that you need to do what makes sense for you. Take classes that meet at the time of day when you know you’ll be functioning. For some, that is a lecture at 8:30 in the morning and for others, it decidedly is not. It might take some experimenting to find what works for you but once you do, implement it. You need to set yourself up to succeed. 

Second, don’t put too much pressure on the individual moments. Rarely will you experience a life-changing conversation or event and realize it in the moment. Yes, the person you talk to on the first day of orientation may become your best friend in the world — that can happen. Just as easily, though, someone you met in orientation could become your friend two years later after meeting again in a shared class or club — this happens too. You don’t know when the moment you’ll look back on where you made best friends or lasting memories will happen, so talk to as many people as you can and open yourself to all the new opportunities and experiences you can.

First-year advice:

While first-years have the least experience under their belt, they also have the strongest memories of what it was like to first come to Brandeis. You’ll likely have incredibly mixed emotions — excited for a new start, but sad to be leaving something behind. There will definitely be that nervous anticipation that accompanies everything you do in the first few days on campus, or that need to fill every waking moment with something fun or productive, which will sometimes go well but can often be way too much. But throughout all the turmoil that is sure to come as you enter this new environment, the most important thing to remember is that it will all work out. One way or another, anything stressing you out will pass in due time. If you don’t find friends immediately, that’s perfectly natural. Just put yourself out there and they’ll come to you. If an assignment makes you feel like pulling out your hair, know that regardless of what you do, your agonizing will be over as soon as that due date arrives. Can’t sleep on a mattress made purely out of metal wires? I assure you, you won’t be able to say that in two weeks (probably because you’ll have gotten a mattress topper). The point is, time is life’s greatest cure. So always remember that while rough patches are not always avoidable, they are always temporary.

As a first-year at Brandeis, there are two things you should do. The first thing is to not write off the people you meet during orientation week. There’s a cliche that the friends you make the first week of college are placeholders until everyone finds their real friends. This may be the case at some schools but not necessarily at Brandeis. This is a tiny school, and the people you meet walking into your dorm on move-in day could very well be the best people you’ll meet on campus the whole time you’re here. Don’t categorize “orientation friends” as just that. If you grow apart from the people you meet when you first get here then so be it, but there’s a chance the people you meet during your first few days will be your best friends — give them that chance. The second thing to do is take advantage of your roommate agreement. Random roommates is a frightening concept. Allow yourself to acknowledge this and allow yourself to take a bit of control over the situation. Try not to be worried about offending your roommate by suggesting filling out a roommate agreement, and chances are they feel the same way. The random roommate survey you filled out won’t always give you the best possible scenario. It’s better to suffer a few moments of uncomfortableness with your new roommate in the beginning than to feel uncomfortable in your dorm for the rest of the year.