By the fourth week of freshman year, you begin to develop a routine. You know exactly how many times you can hit "snooze" without missing your first class, you're beginning to decipher which professors give tests based on the text or on the lecture, and you're starting to grasp the correlation between being over-involved and being overwhelmed. More or less, college isn't quite what "Grown-ish" led you to believe it would be, but it still holds the same excitement for the opportunities and freedoms that come with beginning this new chapter in your life. The only thing disrupting your new rhythm is the lack of varying beats and tempo changes that are produced by friends.

For those who have yet to make connections on campus; don't let the fear of doing things on your own stop you from making the most of your first semester.

Can navigating the union on your own during the lunch rush be daunting? Yes. So is walking into the first meeting of any one of the several organizations you've forced yourself to take part in, in order to meet new people. The point is, with every intimidating obstacle you tackle, both social and academic, you are growing. As much as it would be a relief to have even one acquaintance in each of your classes, and without your high school lunch crew by your side, this time in between finding your niche is where you are free to try everything and learn about yourself.

So, don't be afraid to brave the throng of hungry young adults at the bottom of the union. Go to America's favorite chicken restaurant, order yourself a number three combo meal (with a coke to keep you awake during philosophy), find a booth in the common area where you can study, and savor where you are at the moment. Friends will come along with the steady stream of never-ending due dates and soon enough you won't even remember this stretch of lonesomeness. Next time you find yourself without a lunch date, I hope you have time to stop and enjoy your chick-for-one.