A Guide for the Ultimate College Experience

Photo by The Campus Staff

Welcome to or welcome back to Ottawa University! Having the ultimate college experience is important because it gives you lifelong memories, friendships and (lets just be honest) fun stories to tell in the future. Over the course of your years at Ottawa, you want to make the most of your time. 

Here are some simple ideas to ensure you have the ultimate college experience. 

• Say yes to the team dinner. There will be days where you are exhausted after a long day of classes and practice, and all you want to do is go home and sleep. However, the team dinners are the events you remember. You won’t remember that one class or one practice, but you will the laughter and fun times with your friends and teammates. 

• Go to the sponsored events on campus. First things first: We are broke college students who LOVE free stuff. These events have so many giveaways and freebies while you participate in fun activities. Ottawa University sponsors dorm nights and even get-away nights where you go off campus for fun activities. Not many universities sponsor these activities, so utilize these moments and go out with friends -- for free, I might add. 

• Try new things. You will be pushed outside your comfort zone while in college. This does not mean to do things you sincerely do not want to do. However, if you are one who does not go out a lot, push yourself to do so with friends at least once a week. Push yourself to try new things. Who knows, you might like it. Just know your limits.

• Do something besides studying in your spare time. I know spare time as a college athlete or a college student in general is rare; when we do have the time we tend to study or sleep. However, dedicate some of that spare time to going out and doing things. Focusing on your studies is important but creating lifelong memories is important, too.
   

Whatever you decide to do, think five years from now. Will you really regret going to a team dinner on a Wednesday night or are you going to regret that you didn't? Push yourself outside your comfort zone this year and try to get the most out of your college experience at Ottawa University. Go out, be safe, have fun!