Hello, eager young minds!

I’m here to talk to the young adults who will be going off to college in the fall. While you may feel intimidated by the idea of moving into a completely different environment with completely new people, remember that you can do this. I remember being completely freaked out the summer before I went off to college. As soon as I got there I was still nervous, but I realized that everyone was nervous like like me about this new experience. I realized that everyone was in the same boat as I was: a new student in a new place.

It’s also important to keep in mind that the school is there for you to help you transition to life at college more smoothly. For example, the day I moved in, Albion had student mentors help us with our luggage and help us find our rooms. We also had a First Year Experience class that was focused around adjusting for college. We meet each with a student mentor and talked about school and the academic aspect of school to parties and dealing with our roommates. This class was made up of kids who I didn’t know, and that was a good thing because you automatically have a group of people that you can talk to.

The school that you’ll be attending in the fall will most likely have a weekend filled with welcoming events, speeches, and activities for all the incoming freshmen. This is great for you because you’re surrounded by a bunch of new people doing ice breakers and just getting to know people in general. The speeches were great at my school because they are about relevant topics such as rape, drinking responsibly, and discrimination. While every school's speeches will be different, it’s safe to say that they will be informative and interesting.

It’s also important for you youngsters to be friendly to people during that first weekend before school. Keeping your door propped open gives people an opportunity to say hi. Keeping your door open also encourages you to go and meet other people in your hall and make friends. Proximity is a great incentive to be friends with someone, that way you have someone to go to lunch with. Two of my best friends at school lived right next door to me, and on that first weekend before school they had a little pizza party for the hall and invited all the girls. That’s how we became friends, and I’m really glad they did. People are a lot more approachable than you think, and this is coming from a girl who hates ordering for herself at Starbucks.

If you get anything from this article, let it be that you are not alone in this experience and that it’s okay to be nervous about college. Just know that there are people all around you to help, such as your RA, a friend, parent, or the school's counseling center. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t know what to do, don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Another really great tip for incoming freshman is to simplify what they are bringing to school. Moving out at the end of the year I realized I brought way too much stuff so only bring what you need. You do not need three bottles of Axe and you do not need three bags of makeup. I see myself as a hoarder, so this concept is still somewhat foreign to me but trust me when I say you won’t miss that extra pair of sneakers that you leave at home. Or that zen fountain in my case.

Ladies and gentlemen, while you may still feel like you’re not ready for college, know that once you get a taste of independence you will never be able to get enough! Knowing that you can eat when you want and do what you want is a great feeling but don’t let yourself slip into a routine but eating fries with every meal and watching Netflix for half the day. While it may feel good at the moment it’s better to get outside and do something like read a book or just go for a walk. Doing this can ensure that you’re getting exercise, some fresh air, and you may even run into your crush while you’re out. You never know so don’t be afraid to get involved in what the campus has to offer! If I can get through freshman year you can too!

Good luck you lovely people,

Jess