As Austin is going to college soon, I thought I would give him some good advice based on experience.
1) Don't hang out with the loudest kids. When you hang out with the loudest kids, you get stereotyped as a tool. Yes, they are funny. No, they're probably not the brightest bulbs in the box. Freshman year is especially important for this, as the kids who are really loud usually are the ones who do the dumbest (and sometime inappropriate) things.
2) Don't get a girlfriend. You'll probably tease me about this one once you read it. But only 3% of girls who wait for missionaries actually marry them once they get back from their mission. Girlfriends only cause problems and drama. Plus, most guys who date girls before their missions don't have the best intentions at heart.
3) Dorms are good for freshmen. Any guy who lived in the dorms for their freshman year said it was a great year. Dorms are a breeding ground for craziness. You may find your best friends for a long time from your dorms experience.
4) Do NOT eat anything you want. Just trust me on this one... otherwise you might end up throwing up on your second night of college. Or so I've heard. Rosemary and olive oil Triscuits, pepper jack cheese, pickles, and yogurt do not mix.
5) Do NOT sleep whenever you want. I know lots of freshman boys like to stay up until 7 AM and sleep in until 3PM, but it's a vicious cycle. You will feel terrible, take a nap at 10 PM, and it will never get better.
6) Do your homework a day at a time. I know that at the beginning of the semester it may seem overwhelming to see all the tasks you have to do, and you will just not want to even get started. But if you do the homework for that day, you will find that the semester isn't actually that bad.
7) ENJOY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! College is awesome. Freshman year is something you can't get back... by the time you come back from your mission your girl friends will be married or going on missions themselves, and the guys will be doing different stuff. So take lots of pictures and love it.
