Welcome to college. It’s true what they say, you know? These are going to be the best four years of your life. But what they don’t tell you is that these are going to be the most challenging and demanding years as well. But don’t ever for a second doubt where you are and the places you’re going to go. There are numerous instances where you may find yourself getting lost in the crowd, feeling like you’re just another face. But when you find yourself feeling that way, there are various ways to fix that:
Class
In a lecture hall of almost 200 people, it’s easy to feel like you’re just blending in. But always try to remember that you are there for a reason. You matter and I promise you, your professors look at you as a lot more than just a name on their roster. They chose this career to educate and better the future leaders of our country. They want you to succeed, they want you to want to learn and want to be there. If you are struggling to find your place or having trouble following the pace, go to your teacher’s office hours. I promise, they want to help you. Tell them your struggles and your frustrations and from what I’ve experienced; they will always do their best to help you figure out your options. When your classes get hard, it’s easy to start doubting yourself and if you really made the right choices with your major. But the most vital thing to remember that all these long hours in the library and countless sleepless nights will all pay off one day. My dad always says, “if you do what you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” So just remember to always follow your gut and do what you're passionate about.
Campus Life
No matter how big or small your school is, it’s common to feel a little lost and mixed in with the 17,000 to even 32,000 other students. Especially, when it’s your freshman year and you haven’t exactly established a strong friend group just yet. There are a lot of ways to avoid this but the most important is to get involved. It doesn’t matter how you get involved but just do it. Join student government, Greek life, a religious group, student orientation leaders or even a community service based club. All of these organizations provide excellent ways to truly give a contribution to not only your school, but also the community around you.
Friends
From what I hear, the main complaint of freshman year is that it is hard to make friends. Especially if you come into college not knowing anyone, while others come with all their best friends from back home. My biggest piece of advice is to just go for it. Sit next to someone different in class and simply just say, “Hi, how are you?” I couldn’t tell you how many friendships I have made by doing just that. But don’t just do that in class, but maybe in the café or the library. If you don’t feel comfortable in settings like that, then go to your school's events they put on! No matter the size of your school, your student government or the school itself will put on some kind of event to bring the student body closer. So go to them! These people are your peers; they’re there for the same reason. Get out of your comfort zone and make friends!
Like I said before, it’s easy to get mixed up in college life. But always remember to stay true to who you are, what your values are, and what you’re passionate about. If you do that, there’s no way you won’t succeed.
