Welcome to the University of Wisconsin-Madison! While you’ll undoubtedly be bombarded with advice from all directions, sometimes the best way is to ignore and trust your instincts. Yes, you heard that right! Here’s how you can embrace the unexpected and make your freshman year truly your own:
1. Discover Your Own Pace
Everyone will tell you to get involved immediately, but rushing into every opportunity can be overwhelming. Take your time to explore campus and its offerings at your own pace. Attend events that genuinely interest you rather than those you feel obligated to attend. This approach helped me stumble upon a hidden gem of Kohler Art Library that became my go-to study spot and where I met some of my closest friends.
2. Forge Your Unique Friendships
While advice on making friends might be helpful, the most authentic relationships often form in unexpected places. Ignore the pressure to fit into any particular social scene. Instead, focus on being yourself and let friendships develop naturally. For me, one of the best connections happened during a spontaneous late night event. This is how I found out late night events on campus.
3. Trust Your Gut
At the end of the day, you know yourself best. Trust your instincts when making decisions, whether it’s choosing your major, finding your social circle, or deciding how to spend your free time. This allowed me to pursue an unfamiliar major that I’m passionate about, despite it not being the most popular choice among my peers.
So, incoming Badgers, take a deep breath, embrace the unknown, and let your journey at UW-Madison unfold in a way that’s uniquely yours.