It's time to move for many college students in to their dorms and student apartments. I just moved in to my dorm recently, and it was the first time moving out of my parent's house. Both my parent's and my emotions were everywhere in a gigantic jumbled mess. Moving out invoked a lot of feelings and emotions that I wasn't expecting to feel.
I was so nervous as the countdown to move in got shorter and shorter. I attempted to prepare myself, but it didn't work because I had no idea how living on my own would look like. Not knowing this drives you crazy. You're the clown balancing on a ball while trying to juggle bowling pins that represent your newfound responsibilities and duties you have never had before, and the ball your standing on is the day you move in. It seems very scary at first, but once you are actually there in your dorm or apartment, the scariness goes away because you just did a milestone in your life.
All the packing you have to do makes it even more stressful. You try to pack everything you need, but you still end up forgetting something at your parent's house, like a flat iron, a binder, or an expandable folder. They are the small things your mind determines as less important than your bedding and your clothes. The easy way to help you less likely forget something is make a list of everything you need; this list may be very long, but as you pack one thing, you cross it off your list. I wish I would have done that.
On the drive on move in day, you realize you can't keep acting like a child anymore. No one can get things done for you anymore. It is now all on you; you decide if you go to class or work. You decide who you want to be as a person. No one will force you to do anything. You have to motivate yourself now. If you feel down on the dumps one day, it is still okay to call your mom or best friend and ask for some encouraging words.
Once you begin unpacking in your dorm, your mind is like whoa; you made it here. You made this happen. You are on the stairway to completing your dream. Now it's time for to begin opening your tool box and begin to strategize the next part of your plan: classes, homework, work, clubs, etc. Your mind is moving in all directions at once, like a toddler on a sugar high, looking for the shortest most effective route to take. When strategizing your plan, it is a good idea to keep a planner on you, so you can plan your day effectively to get everything you need done. This also helps you stay organized.
After everyone who helped move leaves, you begin to feel a sense of loneliness and control. You control how you spend your time, but you don't have friends to talk to yet, so I called my mom and my boyfriend that day. Your family and friends will be happy to help you during this transition in your life, so utilize it. You could also write how you feel on paper or in a computer if you are uncomfortable talking about how you feel. On my campus, there is a therapy center. If you really need to talk to someone, find out if your campus has a therapy center and make an appointment; they are there to help you. Always remember, there are other college students dealing with similar emotions and feelings as you. On move in day, there will be lots of people moving around; go find one of those people and talk about what both of you are going through together. You may even find your best friend that day.
It is going to take some time, but you'll get used to living on your own and find a way to deal with all of your responsibilities and duties. You will find friends in a short amount of time; it is much easier than you think. You may feel some homesickness, but a phone call to your mom or another family member will help you. Make sure to tell yourself you can do it, and you will be well on your way to completing your degree. You may look back later and wonder what you were so afraid of because you moved mountains.
