To the nervous, the apprehensive, and the fearful,
I understand the worry that goes along with coming into college. As a freshman, I remember moving into my dorm, full of energy and full of terror. All the questions raced through my head:
How will I be able to balance it all? What if I don't make friends? How will I keep up academically? How many times will I change my major? Worry consumed me.
First off, I would just like to say that you are strong and you are capable of overcoming any feelings of nervousness or apprehension.
You are about to embark on a new journey into the next chapter of your life, and it may bring out fear. Ultimately, it will lead to joy, new friends, new discoveries about yourself.
College is a time in our lives to try new things, reinvent, step outside the box and dare to do something you wouldn't have dared to do in high school. It is a time of spontaneity, new perspectives and beautiful opportunity. Don't waste a second of it.
Coming to Texas State was the best decision I've ever made, as the weeks went by during my first semester, I learned to adjust. I learned that it is okay to feel worry and fear, but I had to find the strength to take advantage of the resources around me.
If you are interested in trying something new or getting more involved with something you love, join a club or group. When you learn to step out of your comfort zone, you'll find yourself meeting new people and trying new things you may not have expected to be a part of.
I recognized a girl living two doors down from me, who was also in my theater class in the bathroom one day. After a brief acknowledgement, she invited me to a Wednesday night ministry on campus. We ended up becoming good friends, and I met so many amazing people through the ministry. The following semester, I joined a sorority and got more involved. As soon as I found myself jumping into new things, I fell in love with college life.
As I spent time studying and got involved on campus, I began to figure out how to function in college. The worry subsided through my experiences as a freshman.
When you are living in a new place, it can be easy to list excuses. When you let fear, or worry get in the way of a new opportunity, you are giving power to that excuse. So instead of giving into the nerves, brush them off by doing something out of the norm.
It has been a wild and at times, a stressful ride, but I wouldn't have it any other way. When we learn to conquer fear, we strengthen ourselves as individuals.
This is college, it's a new life and new freedom, you can do it.
Sincerely,
Someone still figuring it all out.
