Entering my freshman year of college, it is surprisingly easy to feel alone despite the incoming incoming class size of over 2,000 students. However, I have come to the realization that even though we’re all strangers for the most part, we have a few common denominators in our vernacular.
1. “I haven’t done it either.”
Aside from the especially cruel professors, syllabus week is relatively free from assignments. That said, your first week on campus has plenty of opportunities to not do something. Be it buying school supplies and books, actually checking your school email, or even just laundry, college provides countless ways to procrastinate.
2. “Where’s the…”
You get lost. That’s just part of leaving home. You have to learn to just accept that you don't know where you’re going, and if you think you do, you’ll soon discover you’ve been going in the wrong direction. Dining hall, post office, Starbucks -- it doesn’t matter; you won't find it until after a 20 minute walk in a circle.
3. “Will you go with me?”
When you go from living in the same small town for 18 years to being in the middle of a city for school, you forget what it’s like to have to acclimate yourself. It’s absolutely nerve wracking going outside and not knowing where anything is. The buddy-system makes a vital reappearance.
4. “Is it free?”
Another rude awakening is that you don't realize how much money you don’t have until you’re about 300 miles away from the security blanket that is mom’s purse. Coincidentally, college is the best place for free stuff. There is constantly an event going on that offers a free t-shirt and or free food.
5. “Wanna get food?”
Which brings me to my final keyword: food. The perfect way to socialize and make friends while also satisfying the ever-present empty pit in your stomach.
