Last week, I wrote an article talking about how scared and anxious I was for college. I was nervous that I was going to be an anxiety-ridden mess. I was scared that I would become THAT freshman that everyone tells you not to be (I've read the posts and taken notes; hopefully I'm passing "How Not to Be a Freshman 101").
When I got to college, it wasn't as bad as I anticipated.
Every freshman is in the same boat as you. Seriously, you would not believe how many other freshmen open up with the phrase, "Yeah, I'm really bad at making friends, and I'm really nervous about being here." Being nervous and anxious is something that everyone feels. Most likely you've made friends on social media or orientation, and most likely these people are eager to meet you too so they feel like they have a friend. Luckily, most of the people that I made friends with before I got here ended up becoming people I walk to class with, have study sessions with and get coffee with on a regular basis.
If you didn't meet friends over social media before, there's no reason to worry. I've sparked friendships with plenty of people I met during my first few days. I've been lucky enough to have hallmates over till 1 a.m. laughing and joking with me when I had an 8 a.m. the next morning. There are so many people to meet; there are literally no limitations to the people that you will encounter. People from all different backgrounds can find a common ground with you, even if they're from a few towns away from your hometown or from a different country.
The upperclassmen aren't as scary as you would think, either. Most likely, you may have a few of them in your classes, but you can't tell who is who. I thought I would stick out like a sore thumb, but apparently, I haven't because nobody has laughed at me or made fun of me (yet).
Sure, the campus is big and can be intimidating (I learned that Google Maps can fix that problem without making you look like the complete freshman). You adjust quickly and can easily find your way around. You find a way to make it from the Starbucks a mile away from your class and back in 15 minutes.
You make your new comfort zone and end up loving it. For me, my dorm has become my home. I've found so many friends in my hall that we've made a little family. We spend almost every night in each other's dorms. We go out together pretty often (the night scene is awesome), and making friends with them was so easy.
Overall, I love college. To all you incoming freshmen or high school seniors, go ahead and be scared. In the end, it'll work out fine and you'll end up loving the place you're in — I promise. At this point, I don't even want to go home (sorry Mom and Dad).