What To Do When You've Had A Bad First Semester
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College

The First Semester Was A Slap In The Face, But I Still Have Hope For The Rest Of The Year

Don't ever be afraid to ask for help from others, even if they're a total stranger. You're a brave soldier and you got this.

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The First Semester Was A Slap In The Face, But I Still Have Hope For The Rest Of The Year

From a young age, it's drilled into our heads that as soon as we turn 18 and enter college, we're supposed to have a set purpose and execute it. We are conditioned to believe that we're doing something wrong and wasting our time if we haven't formulated a life plan by the time we turn 18. We are shamed by our families for expressing our confusion. We feel guilty because we don't want to disappoint the people we love, but we also don't want to disappoint ourselves. We ask ourselves the questions, "Am I living life for myself or am I living life to please others?" "Will I make it in life?" "What do I actually enjoy?"

The first semester of college for me was a slap in the face and a glimpse into the reality of what I have to endure for the next four years. There's so much apprehension surrounding the first semester of college. College is supposed to be an introduction to the real world and it's the first time many of us are making decisions without the guidance of our parents. It's a scary time and it feels like you're doing it all alone.

I'm a planner, I enjoy planning and figuring things out beforehand and trying my best to execute them, but not having a plan first semester and having no semblance of an end goal, led me to wonder, "what's the point of all of this?" Not having a set plan made me feel uncomfortable and hopeless. Being surrounded by people who knew what they want out of their future and who pinpointed exactly who they want to be is intimidating and makes you feel like you're falling behind.

The first semester contained lots of mental breakdowns and reality checks but at the end left me with a glimmer of hope and excitement for the next semester. I'm a big believer in the notion that everything works out at the end of the day. Somehow you'll find a plan and once you do, all the pieces of the puzzle will come together and everything will be OK. So to the freshmen who are failing to cope with the anxiety surrounded by not having a plan for your future: it's normal. To the freshmen who struggled the first semester: it's OK to be confused. Nothing is more important in college than diligence and patience.

Feeling overwhelmed is normal and expected, and being surrounded by friends and family who help you is a surefire way to alleviate the pressure. No one truly goes through college alone. Even if you have no friends or family for support, you still have the school staff like guidance counselors and your teachers. Don't ever be afraid to ask for help from others, even if they're a total stranger. You're a brave soldier and you got this.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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