Leaving home and living as an "adult" in college is a huge step for most families. I know that my family and I had that struggle as I decided to attend a school located about five hours from our home. College is a time for growth and learning as much about yourself as about your field of study. Here are some tips on how to get through that first week of adjustment to living in a residence hall.
1. Call your mother.
This may seem obvious to some, but to others they need a constant reminder that they probably are not entirely on their own! Calling home to your family is probably the best way to get everyone involved with you moving away from home starting to realize that you are okay on your own.
2. Go to all the Cheesy Welcome Week events.
3. Go to class.
This may seem like a given or rather strange, but believe it or not, you will become friends with people in your classes, especially your harder classes. You will form study groups, go to dinner and the library for test prep, or maybe even cry with one another after the exam... personal experience.
4. Talk to your Resident Assistant.
Your resident assistant or RA are there to help you along the path of finding yourself and making sure that your do it in a safe manner. RAs and ResLife staff are trained to help someone find their spot in life, and it may very well be by telling them to knock on their neighbors door and say hello.
5. Be Prepared to do something on your own.
My biggest fear about going to a school where I basically did not know anyone was doing something alone. However, I have gotten used to the occasional lunch or dinner date by myself. It is actually really relaxing to decompress and sit and just go over your homework.
All in all, college is a huge transition. Living on campus, in a residence hall is the first step to adulting fully. Being on your own truly makes you think of life in a different way.
