With the new school year starting, another wave of students is taking the leap from high school to college. Making the transition can be overwhelming at times--after all, many students are leaving their homes and moving toward independence for the first time in their lives. It is normal to feel scared, anxious, or stressed. However, there are so many things to be excited about, too. If you're a new freshmen who is caught up in this crazy net of emotions, take a deep breath, relax, and read on. If you remember these six things, you will be able to rest easy and have a great time at school.
1. College will be the best thing that has ever happened to you.
In high school, you probably had a teacher (or multiple?) who told you that in college, "the professors don't care about you." Or maybe an older sibling scared you with stories of "that roommate who always came back plastered at 3 a.m. and puked all over everything." There are plenty of horror stories and myths out there that can make college seem really intimidating. However, college really is the greatest thing ever. That 10 p.m. curfew your parents always gave you? Gone. All those high school classes you took and wondered, "When am I ever going to use this?" Gone (for the most part). The bottom line is this: In college, you are in control. You are the one who decides your major, the classes you take, where and when you eat, the people you spend time with, how much you need to study, and when you should go to sleep. There really is no greater feeling than being in control of your own life. Besides that, there are so many fun things that happen every day. Maybe you and your floor mates decide to go dumpster diving at Krispy Kreme at 2 a.m. Maybe your professor schedules class outside. Maybe you figure out that both you and your roommate are ready to get into the Christmas spirit the day after Halloween and decorate accordingly. Maybe you find a student organization that really makes you feel at home. Every day is unique, and there is so much to be discovered. Add to all this the fact that you are giving yourself the gift of higher education, and college really does become the best thing ever.
2. It's okay to be nervous about college.
Even if college is the best thing ever, it's okay to have some anxiety (as long as you deal with it in a healthy way). You're away from home, you're in a strange place, and you're questioning whether some of the food is even edible. Plus, you have to figure out how to make friends again, manage your classes, and deal with the pressure that is put on you to join student organizations. Just know you're not alone. Most--if not all--of the incoming freshmen are experiencing the same concerns that you are. You are all in the same boat, and that really does create a sort of solidarity. Eventually, you figure out what you're doing, and that anxiety leaves in exchange for peace and excitement.
3. It's okay to miss home.
If you find yourself crying yourself to sleep the first night spent in your new bed, it's okay. This is a brand new phase of life, and your definition of "home" is in the process of changing. You will adjust in good time. The vast majority of universities has some form of a welcome week, which is really just a way for you to get your mind off home and start enjoying all the wonderful things this new phase of your life has to offer. That being said, there is no shame in going home when you feel you need to visit. As long as you are still getting the most out of your college experience, go to your sister's dance recital. Go home for mom's famous meatloaf. You are leaving your parents' nest anyway, so do whatever you have to do to make the transition as smooth as possible.
4. You will start to appreciate your parents more.
Maybe as a teenager, you and your parents clashed a lot. Maybe you didn't understand the rules they had for you, or maybe you thought they were simply annoying. When you go off to college, everything changes. You are no longer a child anymore. You are a little adult now, and your parents will likely start to see you as such. When they see you and respect you in that way, it makes it a lot easier to get along with them. You also start to miss many of the things your parents did for you when you lived at home. Who knew the value of having a clean pile of clothes sitting on your bed, courtesy of your mother? Who knew how delicious even Dad's leftover spaghetti tasted in comparison to some of the food in the dining hall? That's right--you'll never take a home-cooked meal for granted again. Ever. Your parents love you and are likely starting to appreciate you in new ways. Do the same for them, and call them once in a while. They will really love that.
5. It's never too late to change your mind.
When you pick your major, you may feel pressured to stick with it, lest you don't graduate on time. However, it truly is never too late to change your mind about it. College is a time to figure out who you are, what you're good at, and what you love to do. If you have to go through six different majors to figure things out, so be it. It's much better to spend a little extra time in school than to have a career you hate for the rest of your life. Also know this: tons of students end up changing their major at some point or another. If you think about it, it's funny (and kind of scary) that 18-year-old kids are expected to have their entire futures figured out--so if you don't feel like you have everything figured out, don't worry. You're not alone. Just enjoy the process of figuring things out. Take fun classes, engage yourself, and, if you're worried you might be changing your mind about your major, give it some serious thought. Always remember that it is never too late to change your mind.
6. You don't have to be the same person you were in high school.
Yes, you have the same name, the same face, and the same personality that you've always had. However, when you come to college, there is one thing that doesn't follow you: your reputation. In high school, it is easy to fall into a particular clique, and many people are judged based on one seemingly defining aspect of their character. This is your chance to leave that all behind. You are surrounded by new people (and likely a lot more people), who don't know you at all. If you've always been viewed as the "good girl" or "the jock that doesn't give a lick about his grades," you can change those perceptions if you really want to. More than that, you can just be you. You are in control of your life and the development of your character. That being said, spend some time with yourself, figure out who you really are, and be free. One of the best things about college is taking advantage of the opportunities that come along with having a new beginning.
