21 tips to get through freshman year for #Mizzou21!

Kennedy-Xpressway
Aug 20, 2017
6 min read

So I'm back everyone! Sorry for not posting as much as I would have liked to over the summer. So many activities kept me busy but school starts on Monday! THAT'S TOMORROW! Isn't that crazy? For my newest Mizzou 21 peers I want to offer you 21 tips to survive freshman year. These are tips and advice that I wish someone would have told me when I got to Mizzou. In order to guide you effectively through your first year at Mizzou I present to you these 21 pieces of advice:

If you want to swipe in an upperclassmen cutie in the dining hall, that’s fine. It's on you though. Be aware that it might be all they want. Since many upperclassmen don’t have meal plans and stay off campus, they target the freshman in order to get a meal. Maybe you might want to finesse yourself and trade swipes for a ride to the store/mall. College is all about finesse (LOL) but make sure you’re not the one getting finessed.
The nail shops on and close to campus are pretty expensive. I won’t name any names though. Some salons to go to are Pro Nails and Elegance Nails. I also recommend my friend “Kreations by Kristal” (Twitter @KreationsByKBW). Not only is she a Mizzou student but she also does gorgeous nails that will fit your broke college student budget. If you need any service from a full set to gel manicures and pedicures, Kristal can do it!
$1 Burgers on Sundays at Big 12 are a must. Campus dining can get boring and an outing with your friends to Big 12 holds the potential for a good affordable time.
Subway is open 24/7 on campus in two locations if you’re hungry and campus dining is closed. One is in Pershing Hall and the other is in Center Hall.
The main floor of the student center isn't the best place to study. It’s more of a social space. Try the basement level or second floor. I recommend Ellis Library (in the stacks), and the Student Success Center basement for great quiet places to study on campus.
The friends you make freshman year might not last and that’s ok. Some of the people who I thought were going to be with me throughout my time in college didn’t last. It’s ok if you don’t end up being best friends or even associates with the people you first meet at Mizzou. An “A1 Day 1” might sound ideal, but there are going to be tons of people to interact with on campus.
Go to class. If you go to class that's half the battle. Now all you have to do is work hard, concentrate and retain that info in class. Your parents or guardians did not send you to college to miss class. GO TO CLASS.
You may not have to worry about this for a while depending on when and if you want to move off campus but whatever you do...DONT SIGN A LEASE AT ASPEN. Many of the student off campus living homes do look to scheme students out of their money. Most recently Aspen has lost many tenants due to spikes in utility bills and unnecessary move out charges. Before you sign a lease for your sophomore year ask your peers what complexes they recommend and see what best fits your needs and budget.
If you need your face beat by an MUA I highly recommend my girl Teanna Bass. She will have you feeling like you're about to be on the cover of a magazine for whatever occasion you need. She's also like Kristal a student at Mizzou and very affordable. Check out SweetTeaCosmetics.com to book her and be on the lookout for her upcoming makeup line under the same brand. Here’s a picture of how Tea hooked me up at the top of this post (idk why it won't let me put it near #9)
Walmart and Target may not offer the hair care products that are necessities as a young black woman or man. If you need a better selection of hair care products, I recommend Super Sami's Beauty Supply on Business Loop. They have everything you'd ever need for natural hair, braids, crochets, sew ins, wigs, and even relaxed hair. Sami's also has business cards and recommendations in the store of stylist and barbers. There are so many talented hair stylist and barbers at Mizzou so if you need to know "who does the best ___", contact me and I'll tell you who I recommend for what services.
The last time I bought a book from the Mizzou Bookstore had to have been my freshman year...and I'm a senior now. Don't buy your books from Mizzou it's cheaper to use third party stores like Chegg.com or Amazon that allow you to purchase or rent text books for the semester. These options are way cheaper than using the book store.
Meet as many people as you can. My freshman year I know I did. Like I said before, the friends you first meet at Mizzou may not be there until the end. It's a good idea to have a variety of diverse friends and associates.
Talk to your professors or teaching assistants. Get to know them because they'd love to get to know you! If it wasn't for me getting to know my professors, I would not have been given some of the academic and non-academic opportunities that I was granted during my time here at Mizzou.
Don't rack up on city or campus parking tickets. I know from working for campus parking that Mizzou Parking and Transportation DOES NOT PLAY (insert hand claps)! If you don't already have a parking permission, try and purchase a commuter permission that will allow you park on the outskirts of campus and then shuttle you into the core of campus at the student center. The worst thing in the world is when you have to call your parents and tell them that your car was towed or they look at your MyZou bill and see the ridiculous amount of parking tickets you've accumulated.
Join organizations! Whether it be related to your major or just for pure enjoyment. Join an organization that helps you grow and has members that help you grow as well. LBC Gospel Choir, and Lambda Pi Eta are two orgs in particular that made me feel comfortable at Mizzou.
Express your creativity through singing, dancing, fine art, poetry or wherever your talent lies. Art is a form of self-care. With all the stress that college can bring, it is important to stay grounded in something that you love and enjoy.
Be a sexual being (if that what you want to do). There is nothing wrong with exploring who you are sexually in college. If you don't want to, that's fine but make sure that you don't condemn others for their sexual choices. KEEP YOUR SLUT SHAMING COMMENTS TO YOURSELF. No one likes someone that gossips. If you decide to be sexually active, please be safe and use protection. There are free (male and female) condoms in various social justice centers and other building on campus such as the Black Culture Center, the Women's Center and more.
In addition to being safe, get tested frequently for STDs. During both semesters there are several FREE STD test days for students on campus. Take advantage, Mizzou may seem big but it is indeed a small world when it comes to who is sexually involved with each other. It's so easy to catch an STD if you aren't safe or take precautions.
For cheap movies, always go to the Forum movie theater located near Columbia Mall. If you have your student ID with you, you will receive a student discount. ALL movies will only be $7! Compared to movie tickets in major cities like Chicago, $7 is half of what I'm use to paying for!
Eat by yourself at the dining hall. It may seem awkward eating by yourself and to others you may appear "lame" but there isn't anything wrong with it. Sometimes you need your own personal time alone, and you may not always have a friend available to walk with you to Plaza.
Don't be afraid to be who you truly are. College is all about finding yourself. Find out who you are, even if that person may be weird, introverted, or extroverted, and be that person. Make the best of your 4, 5, 6, or how many ever years you will be at Mizzou, you'll make memories that last for a life time!