Going back to school at a community college is a little different than going back to a four-year school. There's no move-in weekend, no meeting your RA or roommates, and no crying parents in the freshman dorms. However, the goodbyes are still plentiful. Going back to COD means saying goodbye to valuable friends from home who go away to school and being left only with memories of an incredible summer. One can't help but to feel a little empty after saying goodbye to so many loved ones who are off to another full year of academics, on-campus activities, and friends of their own. Staying home is often hard because of these salutations and the feeling of being left behind.
Having attended a four-year college as a freshman, I remember my first move-in like it was yesterday. There wasn't any air conditioning in the dorms and I absolutely hated my roommate. Still, thinking about my close friends enduring the same situations every August or September takes me right back to the fun of a residential college campus. This isn't to say that I don't love attending a junior college; I do. But I do feel that end-of-summer loneliness that every college student experiences at one point or another, and I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that I fear having to start fresh without a solid group of friends or classmates to support me.
What do I do?
Now, don't think that this article is meant to belittle the community college experience. I of all people know just how great it feels to take and pay for classes at the same time without having to take out loans or spend extra money. In fact, this article is to breed support for those of us who struggle with our friends leaving for school while we stay at home and commute to class. It's just a different experience shared by the community college community. This is why it's important that students support each other and create bonds in the beginning of the school year - to offer kindness and friendship that helps everyone get along better.
The best way to avoid the post-summer sadness is to know yourself. Know what kind of support you need for the things that come up and learn how to do it yourself. Living at home often means staying busy non-academically in order to pay off and succeed in school. It means being incredibly more self-sufficient and not always having a ton of people around to keep you company. Therefore it's important to be your own support person and stay occupied. That said, it's important to have a group of supports at school as well. It's crucial to know where the tutoring centers in your school are, to memorize your schedule, to adjust your day so that they go by without a hitch. Know where your friend or classmate often sits outside of class in case you have questions or want to discuss an exam. Outside support in people or places will provide the comfort one needs to get through the school day, and ultimately, the year. Other students and on-campus clubs will always be a great source of both help and comfort, so as the new year approaches, put yourself out there! You never know what kind of people you'll meet or what kind of places you'll end up.
