My first month of college has basically come and gone. It has been quite an interesting experience filled with many ups and downs. It has mostly consisted of me going to classes and coming back to my dorm room. One night I asked myself why? Why has my "college experience" so far consisted of doing homework and binge watching Netflix. The reason was actually quite simple. I expected everything to be handed to me. I was expecting too much.
Now hold on and let me explain what I mean when I say that I was "expecting too much." My senior year of high school was a pretty amazing one. I had so many friends, a good reputation in the fine arts setting, and was the face of my school's news network. It seemed my life couldn't get any better. College began and there I was, a freshman surrounded by hundreds of new faces I've never met before in my life.
As the first school week went underway and the involvement fair began, I signed up for the things I know I'm most familiar with, Drama and an A Capella group. My first mistake walking into auditions for both of those things was expecting a role. Now don't get me wrong, self confidence is great, but I expected it almost immediately because I was the big go to fine arts kid everyone knew. It would be crazy for me not to get a role here, right? I felt the same with the A Capella group. However, I got neither.
It felt like a punch to the gut. After not signing up for much because I wanted to make room for these two things that I felt would take up all of my time, I am now sitting in my dorm room with very little to do. I learned a valuable lesson though, a sort of wake up call. I am a freshman, which means that I have the opportunity for a new start, as if there were a reset button if you will.
Now why did I bore you with a pity story? The reason is because I don't want you to make the same mistake I made. College is a brand new journey, don't expect all the fame and popularity you acquired in high school to cross over with you. Now I'm sure you're thinking "Well no kidding," but trust me, you tend to forget.
Whether you were captain of the sports team, President of Student Council, or the star of the play, you now have a new beginning. This is like for many things, such as starting a new job. You'll always get that restart button pushed. Just relax and remember the first time you were a freshman. The best things are worked for. That position you once had, you'll get it again, you just need to work for it like you once had.
