Growing up, I always wanted to fast forward to college so that I could move into a dorm room and make new friends. I’ve wanted to get away from my hometown for as long as I can remember. When the time finally came to move into school, I didn’t know whether to cry or throw up because there were so many thoughts and feelings running through the course of my body. I was so nervous and excited to start a new chapter in my life, but I didn’t know what to expect. I had these pre-conceived thoughts that my school would be amazing based on the way everybody talks about colleges in general. My campus was beautiful when I went on a tour and that was the only thing I could remember when I left. I thought about move-in day from the day I toured campus until the day it finally came.
I decided to go to Ramapo College of New Jersey. I had a blast for the first two weeks or so and then it set in. This college was not for me. It was hard getting through the first semester and I went home every single weekend. I wasn’t involved in anything on campus, I didn’t go to events frequently, I didn’t really make any friends, and I knew I just wasn’t happy with the school I chose. Fortunately, I was able to transfer schools and now I go to Montclair State University. I decided that when I got here, I would go to as many events as possible and get involved as much as I could because I was determined to be happy with school life. Transferring was the best decision I ever made. Although one of the reasons I wanted to go to Ramapo was because I could live there, I knew that moving back home was the best option for me. When I got to Montclair, I immediately got involved. It helps that I already know people that go to the same school as me, so that also made it easier to get involved and go to on campus events.
Getting involved was the best thing I’ve ever done. It has opened my eyes to all the different types of people that are out there. It exposed me to new and exciting activities that I’ve never done before. It has helped me to become a better person and I’m finally excited to go to school every day. I wasn’t involved in school activities at all growing up so going to MSU and feeling like I’m a part of the school is the best feeling there is. My advice to those who don’t go to events or get involved is: definitely change that and get involved. It is very much worth it. You can meet new people, you get to feel like you are actually a part of the school, and you can make new friends. Getting involved on campus is especially worth it for commuter students, which is difficult sometimes. I’m a commuter and getting involved is the easiest way to make new friends. It has made my transition much easier and if I could be more involved than I already am, I would be.
