Your first year of college is unlike anything you'll ever experience. With so many new things going on around you, there are bound to be some awkward and panic-inducing moments. You're not alone, however; everyone in college experiences these tough obstacles.
1. Inevitably seeing seemingly everyone you know on your way to and from the shower.
Anyone who has communal bathrooms will feel this pain. Unless you take a shower at 5 a.m., you'll more than likely see your floor mates and/or strangers on your walk to and from the shower. Of course I had to walk past the elevator to reach the bathroom, so that added even more of a chance of running into people. To make this less awkward, bring a robe to wear on the walk to and from the bathroom so you don't have to worry about a towel potentially falling.
2. Eating by yourself.
Especially in the first couple weeks, you won't know too many people and the ones you do know may not have schedules that match up with yours, so lunch time may come around and you have no one to go with you. If you have to eat a meal alone, don't panic. Even if it feels like people are staring, nobody is judging you for sitting by yourself. You can bring your laptop and textbooks to give yourself something to do while eating rather than staring into space, or, if you feel really self-conscious, you can ask for a to-go box and eat elsewhere.
3. Starting a paper.
In high school, you wrote dozens of papers, so you sat in class thinking this would be a cinch. However, this professor didn't give you a specific topic. Or maybe he or she didn't explain their expectations for length or how to structure the paper. Now, you're staring at your laptop realizing you don't really know how to begin. A pretty run of the mill assignment in high school has become a daunting task. If you feel very unsure, visit your professor's office hours to ask questions and get feedback on your ideas. It's much better to take the initiative before you begin rather than learn the hard way when you fail your first paper because you were not sure of what to do. Also, visiting office hours almost always gives you brownie points with professors.
4. Choosing a seat.
Most people don't think of this problem until it's staring them in the face, and it may not seem like a big deal but it certainly feels like it. You don't have assigned seats, and you don't know anyone in your class, and now you have to make a decision. Choosing a seat on the first day is a choice that feels like it can make or break the semester. Sit too far away, and you may not be able to hear the professor. Sit too close, and you may have to crane your neck to copy notes from the board. Should I sit next to someone and start a conversation? Should I skip that and choose an empty spot? Wherever you end up, try to sit there consistently because someone WILL get mad for taking their seat halfway through the semester.
5. Letting go of first-day friends.
When people arrive at college, they tend to latch on to whoever they get to know first, whether it's their roommates or their orientation group. However, as the year goes on, you may realize that these people are not your true friends. It's not that they are bad people, but you don't feel like it's your niche, and while you may feel bad, it's okay to let yourself drift away from them. You'll find your real group of friends over time, especially if you get involved in activities on campus to get to know people with similar interests. Once you find your people, you'll be relieved that you were able to let your other friends go.
In your first year, you'll definitely experience some cringe-worthy moments, but just remember everyone is going through the exact same thing as you. Once you overcome these, your first year of college will be the best year of your life (so far)!
