Getting that acceptance letter from your dream college was one of the best days of every college student's life. The pride coming from our loved ones. The excitement poring throughout your whole body because you finally get to start your own life away from your parents and family. Thinking of the major you are going to be pursing that leads to your dream job/career. All of the new friends you are about to make. The organizations to join. It's a whole new chapter in your life.
When you go to your Orientation and meet the Orientation Leaders (S/O to my OL Team and fellow OLs out there) and get to actually meet students who are in the majors and hearing their stories and advice when it comes to the next four years. Meeting the advisors whose soul-purse is to help you with getting in to your major and another person who is in your corner. Then finally, getting your Fall classes and then it hits you... YOU ARE A COLLEGE STUDENT.
The anticipation for Freshman Move-In comes into play and rooming with your roommate or roommates sets in. Then, it happens. Move-In Day. So many feelings and emotions running through you that you don't know what to do with them all. The excitement, fear, happiness, nervousness, etc. You unpack into the room that will be yours for the next year and see that this is it. No more parents. No more high school. You're friends from home aren't there with you. Everything now rest on your shoulders. You are officially on your own. You turn to your parents, especially mom, with a "doe-like" look and the tears start to form. The goodbye is one of the hardest, or hardest, you have ever done. The first night is the roughest but will get easier and easier to when it becomes the norm not to be around them all the time.
Soon, classes start and getting involved in the organizations that your university offers. Everything is getting busy real quick. From classes to organizations to social life. Before you know it, life throws you a curveball. One you were never prepared for. Everything changes: world views, personal relationships, personality, and even majors. What you thought you were going to be now has done a 360 and a new dream is in sight.
After how many years you put in, mine was a year and half, you choose a different course and start down that road. Instead of four years of college, its now looking like more than that and that is perfectly okay.
Now-a-days, college students are graduating at their own rate whether it being four years or five and half. If you aren't graduating "on-time", you aren't alone. I'm in that boat with you. I came into college thinking one career path but life happened and now I'm pursing a different. Changed my major and added a minor as a Junior. It's life. You change. Don't worry about what other people are thinking and saying about it. It's YOUR life.
I have talked to non-traditional students, and they all say the same thing: "Do everything you want to while in college because once you get out and life starts, you wish that you did. Take your time. Enjoy every minute of it." and the list goes on.
College is all about finding the person you want to become and if it takes a little bit longer oh well. Go at your pace because the end game is to graduate and either enter the workforce or go onto Graduate Schools, and you want to do and be the best you can be.
Remember on thing: you aren't alone. There are other students who aren't graduating "on-time". Find yourself. Become better. Get involved. Make friendships and relationships. Enjoy the perks of being in college (at your own risk and safely). But most importantly, love and embrace the person you are becoming. That is the person you are meant to be.
