You have picked your college. You submitted endless paperwork to the housing department, you selected a meal plan and you have all of your dorm stuff packed into the back of the car. Everything's good to go. But now what?
I feel like in high school there is not much to worry about. Your parents help you out as much as they can and you have limited responsibilities. You don't really have to worry about being in debt, living alone, and taking care of your own self. But, when you get to college, everything changes.
Not only do your surroundings change, but your lifestyle changes as well. You have to mold into a new routine. This involves making many huge decisions on your own. As a freshman, there were many things that I noticed I took for granted when I lived at home in high school. For example, during my first year, I tried out for the cheerleading team at my school. To make a long story short, I had to get a ton of medical forms and paperwork signed, and I had to get a physical examination in order to try out. I remember thinking, "How do I make a doctor's appointment? Who do I even call for that?" It was pretty tough, but I eventually figured it out on my own.
One of the biggest things I struggled with was living independently. At first, I was like, "Wow, this is great...I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want." Now, that's all fun and games until you look in the mirror and realize the Freshman Fifteen is real...and you're a victim. Another thing I struggled with was making friends. I was nervous about fitting in and finding that "group" that everyone seemed to have. I joined a sorority in hopes of finding those forever friends, but I always felt uncomfortable and shy when I was with everyone. I learned, though, that you don't have to change yourself in order to fit in or impress a group of people. In college, you want friends who accept you for who you are!
Academically, the transition from high school to college isn't as detrimental as previous transitions have been. The academic demands given by professors is not that much different than your high school teachers. The main thing that is different is the atmosphere. You are basically sleeping, eating, and hanging out at school 24/7. You don't go to class for six hours, drive home, and go on with your daily routine. College gives young people a level of autonomy they have never experienced before.
All in all, the transition from high school to college was difficult for me. It took a while to get used to a new lifestyle. But, college is all part of a learning experience, and everyone gets through it!
