The transition from a small town to a huge university with unfamiliar faces was hard, and although it has taught me to improve myself in many ways, I still have a long way to go. When I first moved into my dorm, I was beyond nervous and anxious. I was so scared that I wouldn't make friends, and I thought everyone else was making friends with each other so quickly. During the first few weeks, I pushed myself to talk to new people every day and get to know them.

I learned to get out of my comfort zone a little more and became less nervous about asking for help when I needed it. I learned that the best way to make friends is to be yourself and stop caring about what everyone else thinks. In the beginning, it was hard to meet new people in the dining hall or on the bus and just strike up a conversation, but the more I did it, the easier it got. I met some amazing people and became less introverted.

When classes started and the adjusting time was over, nothing in high school had prepared me for the change in the academic rigor of college. It's so easy to get distracted by the endless amount of events, people, and opportunities available at large universities, that I did not realize the amount of independent work required to become successful in a class. It took me a while to realize that I needed to have a major change in my study habits and time management if I wanted to be successful in college

Also, switching from small classrooms with no more than 25 people, to large auditorium sized classrooms where the main time to ask questions is during office hours, made the understanding process a bit more challenging for me. Education is the most important part of college, and it is critical to do whatever I can to stay focused. The beginning of college has been challenging, but with my new knowledge, I will continue to strive to achieve my goals and gain more confidence.