August 6, 2025
Your first year on campus is a season of change. For many, students are leaving their families and friends across the country, living alone for the first time and adapting to new routines and coursework. As you begin your adventure at Nebraska, here are some words of encouragement and advice from your New Student Enrollment orientation leaders.
Academics & support
“Something I wish I knew as a first-year student is that there is help on campus. I have found amazing resources from tutoring to mental health. UNL has everything you need to succeed!”
“Professors want to make connections with their students! Going to office hours are a great way to not only gain a better understanding of the material you are studying in your professors’ classes but also get to know each other as people and build your network!”
“Never be afraid to send an email. Many courses and experiences at UNL have high expectations, but they also have a high level of support. I used to spend hours contemplating the directions of an assignment or an application for a university experience because I was too afraid to send an email. An email doesn’t have to be long — a short email can solve even the most complex questions. Communication helps build your professional connections with professors and leaders on campus.”
“Your time is your most important asset; don’t waste a semester away blowing off homework and skipping class.”
Putting yourself out there
“I wish that I knew it is never too late to do something new. If you want, you can totally reinvent yourself and find new passions.”
“Your first year moves fast. Say yes to things. Go to that event. Introduce yourself. Sit with someone new. You only get to do this once, so make it count.”
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It is completely normal to not know everything all the time. Remembering that everyone around you wants to see you succeed makes it easier to ask questions and help prepare yourself for the real world.”
“I wish someone had told me to be more spontaneous in my actions. Say yes within reason. Join that intramural team. Knock on that dorm door. Talk to that person next to you in class. Some of the best people you will meet and that will support you come in at the most unexpected times, but you have to be open to it.”
Be YOU!
“Your college experience doesn’t have to look one way to be significant, and you can always try and find joy in tough times.”
“Remind yourself of the impacts your past had on you, and to be okay and comfortable with change — but don’t change the entirety of who you are to conform to being the “typical college student.”
“Make sure you take care of yourself and get enough sleep. Find friends who pour into you and make you happy. Don’t neglect your emotional well-being, but most importantly, have fun!”
“You don’t have to change yourself to find your people; they will love you for who you are.”
“I wish I knew how much potential I had at the time and could believe that I was capable of so much growth and change for the better. I am not at all the same person I was on the first day of school and I am incredibly grateful for it.”
Embracing the experience
“College is unpredictable at times, but sometimes, the things out of your control turn into the most impactful moments of your experience!”
“As a first-year student, I wish I had known that everything happens for a reason, even when things don’t go as planned. It’s okay to fail because failure isn’t the end, it’s part of learning and growing. I spent too much time worrying about having everything figured out when, in reality, life unfolds at its own pace, and there’s no need to rush.”
“College is a short four years that you will never get back. Take the risk at the job interview, sign up for the study abroad in Costa Rica and explore other majors.”
“Never take yourself out of a room before you get the chance to even step in it. What I mean by that is apply for things and go for things that might seem out of reach. If you don’t try, the answer will automatically be no.”
Building community
“Coming to college is a huge change, and it’s okay to start out feeling nervous. Find ways to make your room feel like home, call your parents or friends as often as you need and make an effort to build connections on campus. Adjusting to college life takes time, but finding a community early on can make the transition much easier and less lonely.”
“Be spontaneous, especially when living on campus for the first year. There are endless opportunities each night to get connected to those around you, like playing sand volleyball, getting ice cream from the Dairy Store or participating in the residence hall activity for the night.”
“My best advice is to participate in the welcome events, UPC activities and RA-hosted things the first semester. The events I went to are where I made some of my favorite memories and got to meet my best friends!”
Overcoming nerves
“Something that I wish I knew as a first-year student is that everyone is just as nervous as you! It is a new school, people are gaining independence, moving away from their families and it can be overwhelming at times. It is important to remind yourself that everyone is in the same boat as you, and to give yourself some grace.”
“You’ll try new things, mess up, grow and learn to give yourself grace along the way. It’s okay to pivot, even if it feels scary.”
“Go into college with an open mind! It’s okay to not have everything figured out right away, that’s the beauty of it.”
Adapting to college
“My best advice to a new college student is to schedule your days! I’ve had overwhelming semesters where it feels like I don’t have any spare time, and I’ve also been bored and felt like I needed to add more to my plate. The best way to overcome these extremes is to create a daily schedule and delegate time to your priorities.”
“I wish I had planned out specific times during my days for study time, but also block out free time to make sure to keep a good balance.”
“You will be doing a lot of walking on campus. If you’re used to driving everywhere, you may find it a bit exhausting at first. However, walking on campus with music can be a very calming experience. Just remember to wear comfortable shoes.”
“I wish I knew the importance of studying outside of your dorm room. During my first semester, I would do homework and study in bed, leading to procrastinating my assignments. I now make it a point to go somewhere else to be productive. I have found that I love working on homework in coffee shops and studying in a quiet place like Love Library.”