They say being nervous for your first year of college is completely normal, but personally (ya know, as an incoming college freshman) I find it quite abnormal. Starting kindergarten, you’re too young to even understand what is happening and your biggest fear is that last hug goodbye to your parent at the classroom doorway. In elementary school it’s the big bully who steals all your colorful cap erasers. In middle school you try your hardest to steer clear of the many vicious packs of mean girls, which you most likely did not succeed at, but somehow you managed to survive. By high school you catch "senioritis" day one and you don’t care about anything except that cute guy a few desks down from you; and pray for the day you get that same moment that Cady and Aaron shared in their math class on October 3rd. But college? It feels like you are preparing to step into a completely different world, and the worst part is you’re going all on your own. Let’s be honest with each other and with ourselves, no matter how badly we “Gotta get out of here” or “Need to get away from the ‘rents” we are scared sick about going to college. So, since many of us are too scared to admit them ourselves here is a list of my personal real fears being a first year college student….

1. What am I going to do?

Here’s a little fun fact about me: I am completely undecided on my major. I know, I know, it stresses me out too. Which is why I am terrified to start college. Going into college undeclared is like going into a grocery store hungry, but not knowing what you want to eat. You know for sure that you want something, you just don’t know what it is yet, and how are you going to know if you don’t try a little bit of everything. The worst part about it for me has been people telling me that I “have time” or “don’t worry, you will figure it out eventually!” Well it feels like I have absolutely no time at all.

2. Reality Check!

There are times in life where we get caught up in our expectations and this is where we wind up most disappointed with the reality of life. We’ve all seen the movies, ya know, the ones that portray college as a stress-free, exciting, environment with lots of free time and where the Greeks are all the rage (literally.) We grow up watching TV shows and movies that revolve around these ideal college campuses and depict what would be the greatest expectation of college life, thinking that these views of college were going to reflect exactly what our college life would look like one day. The scary thing is, we know that all of those depictions are misconceptions of the real life of a college student, so what do we actually need to expect as a perspective college student? That’s just it--we don't know! And if you’re anything like me the biggest fear I have is the unknown.

3. Who are you?

Now personally, I don’t have to worry about the fear of living with a complete stranger but I do have the fear of not being able to live on campus. I know it sounds really weird. But being an involved person is very important to me. I am a super social butterfly and not being able to live on campus and getting that “full college experience” even though people say “you’re not missing out on much,” I feel like I am. I have a major case of FOMO (the Fear Of Missing Out). I have so many friends going off to college and talking about their roommate, and how cute their dorm room is going to be and blah, blah, blah. I want so badly to be able to live on campus and have a super cute dorm and a roommate that I can bond with, but unfortunately I will be missing out on that. To top it all off I even had someone message me saying that they were my new roommate and were excited to meet me and get to live together, and I had to share the unfortunate news that I wasn’t living on campus anymore. Well, stepping off my soap box, many people are scared to live with their stranger of a roommate, “what if I don’t like them?” “what if they are super weird or creepy?” I would be asking the same questions if I was living on campus too....

4. It’s not about the money?

They say “money doesn’t bring you happiness,” but neither does being broke! Application fees, deposits, tuition, housing, meal plans, text books…..wow that's a lot of dollars! I’m 18; I work a part time job at a BBQ joint. I barely make minimum wage and I live off of my daily tips, which usually buy me a meal and some gas (maybe). Yes, scholarships are helpful and I have been blessed to be given the ones I received and am beyond thankful for them! But that only helps so much, and money management, I will openly admit, is not my strongest suit. Having to enter college and manage my own money for food, books, gas and who knows what else I’ll have to start paying for, that is scary. I know I can’t be the only one who has a fear of beginning my own financial journey at 18….

5. What? When? Where? Why?

All questions that will constantly be running through my head daily. Thoughts that currently consume my mind just thinking about my busy schedule to add onto. I am a busy busy bee, I am a part of many different extracurricular activities within the community that take up a lot of time. I am a dedicated theater kid, I work part time, I am a worship leader at my church, I am very involved in Young Life and the list goes on and on. And college is coming. I used to think the busier I was, the easier it would be to manage my time because I would have a set schedule for everything, but as I add more and more onto my schedule managing my time has become much more of a hassle….I know once I start classes and start getting involved in college I am going to have to let go of some of the other hobbies I have found over the years which can be kind of sad, but I know I will find more exciting and fun things to do in college.

6. The pressure is real!

We all know one of the most intimidating parts of going into college is the peer pressure. As if it wasn’t hard enough to deal with in high school right? Although it is completely normal to have that desire to be liked and to fit in, I mean we’re all human and we all want to fit in somewhere! Peer pressure isn’t always a negative thing, but you have to find that difference between positive peer pressure and negative. It’s so easy to just give in sometimes to what seems to be something fun and exciting especially in a new environment. Peer pressure is scary for everyone whether you’d like to admit it or not.

7. What’s your status?

As a college student, we get the opportunity to shape our future, not only academically but socially as well. Once in college, we search for people like ourselves, we seek out the social groups we wish to be affiliated with and classified under. There all types of stereotypical cliques found on any college campus, just as there are everywhere else, no question about it! But where do you go? Which one do you choose? Who are you? And Who do you want to be? Do you want to be the same person you were in high school or are you looking to be apart of a different scene? And once you decide, how to you ensure you’re actually apart of it? So many questions, so many different choices, but which is the right one?

8. FRESH-MEAT

As a freshman in high school it’s terrifying to walk through the front doors not knowing what to expect and personally college feels no different. You’re all alone, you’re the dreaded “FRESH MEAT” of the school once again. You’re stepping onto a clean slate and hoping to do all that you can not to mess it up, even though you know it’s inevitable….

9. 13, 14, FRESHMAN 15

The dreaded Freshman 15, and no, we aren’t talking about that dorky, four eyed, brace face 15 year old freshman. We are talking about what the scale says. With the work load, the sleepless nights, the pressure of climbing or trying to avoid the social ladder, there’s no escaping it. Not a single person can avoid it. It’s late at night, you’re typing a paper that’s due tomorrow, you’re staring blankly at the curser blinking on a blank screen, and your stomach lets out a nasty growl. You grab a pack of chips, then a cookie, then twist open a bottle of coke. You’re snacking, and once you start the snacks they keep coming, until three hours later. You’ve taken multiple snack breaks, as well as a break or five to check your Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and basically any social media you can find to distract you. And you look down upon a beautifully created food baby. Then the rest of the week you sleep and repeat…and before you know it you’ve gained that Freshman 15.

10. Keeping the FAITH.

Personally one of my biggest fears for college is staying strong in my faith. It is so easy to get distracted with the craziness of life and the constant push and pull of society. I will admit I struggled staying strong in high school, but it was a blessing to have others around me who believed the same as I did. My biggest fear in college is that I won’t find those people, or I’ll choose the wrong people to be with because of the excitement of it all. Thankfully I already have some good friends that will stand with me and stand firmly beside me in my walk with Christ as it continues to develop. Everyone faces trials in their faith and college is where you have to make the decision whether you are going to continue your walk on your own or choose to turn the other way. I know I will make mistakes but my biggest hope is not remain as I am in my faith but that I will face challenges and trials and come out with triumph, learning and growing in my faith with friends and with God.

So, there they are! The top 10 fears I have as an incoming freshman in college. Its all very true, and all very scary. I know I’m not the only one and hopefully if you’re a freshman reading this, you now know that too.