Going to college can be the most exciting moment in a person’s life. But freshmen can quickly realize that in addition to exciting new opportunities, there are also new and unexpected obstacles. Learning to make smart decisions in the face of those obstacles can help college students achieve their fullest potential. 

When I was going into my freshman year, I could not wait to experience college life. I felt like I was more independent because I did not have the tight grip of my parents holding me back from doing what I wanted to do. If I wanted to stay up until four in the morning then I was going to do so because my parents were not there to stop me. If I wanted to go out to a party on Saturday night then I would go without facing confrontation. I was entitled to make my own decisions and ultimately I could choose to do anything I wanted. There was no one there to stop me from doing what I wanted to do besides myself. But there were stumbling blocks, too.

One of the major obstacles many college students struggle with is peer pressure. You will encounter all different kinds of people that grew up in different environments. That is why it is important to surround yourself with people who respect your values and will not force you to do anything that can hurt your future. That way when you do run into those people who want to test your values, you will have a great support system to help you decide to do the right thing. 

There is nothing wrong with having fun and going to parties.  I went to a few during my first year of college. My advice is to always think things through. When you do go out, look out for yourself and your friends. Or if someone is throwing a party and you have an exam for your 8 a.m. class the next morning, maybe the smart decision is to stay in and handle your business. You will thank yourself later when you see an “A” in that gradebook. You’ll appreciate the sacrifice you made to achieve a greater goal. 

College students have the power to control their own destiny and set their own goals to become successful in life. Keeping those goals in mind and surrounding yourself with positive peers can go a long way in helping you make the smart decisions needed in order to stay on your path towards success.