There’s little doubt in my mind that for the greater part of your teenage to young adult life, you have been told that college is going to be the best four years of your life. That you will make friendships to last a lifetime and discover who you really are. Being a rising sophomore, I can honestly say that college is an unbelievable place where these claims turn out to be true. However, the problems I faced when arriving to college were the expectations I brought along with me. The reality is I didn’t even enjoy college at first. When you break it down, college really is a terrifying concept.
First off, you’re sleeping in a room with someone who, if you're lucky, you know PRETTY well, in a building unfamiliar to you, surrounded by hundreds of other people you don’t know. You then wake up to go eat some alright food and go to a class full of no more than a few familiar faces. You’re basically being dropped off somewhere and being told, “Okay! Go have the best years ever. See you on breaks!” It’s really quite daunting when you think about it, at least it was for me. If you’re a very outgoing person, then this situation could be perfect for you. But for me, being a bit more reserved, I had no clue where to start.
Between being overwhelmed and homesick, I barely had time for much else. I had expected college to be the most wonderful place when I arrived, but instead I was dropped into a new place with little to no guidance or preparation. It took some time to adjust, but it shortly became one of my favorite places. To those of you who may be having trouble adjusting, I’d like to give you some advice and guidance I wish that I had when arriving to school in order to make your transition as easy as possible.
1. Give it time
It’s okay to miss being at home with your friends and family. No one expects you to get to college and completely trade the last 18 years of your life for a new one.
2. Start Small
Get to know a few kids on your floor or in your classes to start. Not only could they turn out to be some of your best friends, but they could also introduce you to someone else that could be. You don’t need to be everyone’s best friend and you don’t even need to like everyone, just find a few people you feel you mesh well with and go from there.
3. Be yourself
Yes, I’m aware how cliché it is and I’m aware you’ve heard it since you were little, but college is the place where I feel it really stands true. With the amount of people brought together in one place it’s almost impossible to have an interest that you can’t share with someone else. There are clubs for almost anything you can think of. If there’s not yet, then make one.
4. Get Organized and Acclimated
This may not seem related to the topic at hand, but being comfortable with your surroundings relieves extra stress, and really does wonders for adjusting. By staying on top of assignments and not allowing them to pile up, you can spend time enjoying yourself without having to worry about when your next paper is due.
5. Don’t make up your mind too fast
You may not enjoy college right away, and that's perfectly fine. It’s normal to not like new things right away, but don’t count everything out immediately. College really is an amazing place that allows anyone to be who they aspire to be. Sometimes it just takes a little time to figure out who that might be, so give yourself a chance to get used to it.
Beginning college can be terrifying and stressful, but with some time it can become the best four years of your life. So don’t worry too much and above all else, enjoy it while it lasts!
