Going into college for the first time, I was truly petrified of how hard it was going to be. In high school, teachers warn about how college is nearly impossible. They tell the students that even the brightest struggle to barely pass in college. All of the fear and anxiety built up definitely gave college a scary reputation for me.

Now, I have officially completed a semester of college. I'll go ahead and say this: it's not as scary as I thought it would be. However, it is definitely a lot more different than high school. First off, living away from home felt strange and unfamiliar. The first week was tough for me but as time went on, I got used to it and began to find enjoyment in independence.

Being away from home is something that everyone experiences at some point. College made it easier on me because I was kept busy and I was not alone. Getting used to college classes was definitely harder than adjusting to dorm-living. I am a weak test taker and all of your grades in college are based off of tests. That aspect really scared me so I knew I was going to have to study a lot.

It is hard to find which study habits work best, but eventually I fell into a routine that worked for me. I made flashcards, watched videos, read my textbooks, and more. Though I didn't ace every exam, I knew my work was paying off. It just takes time to adjust and work out ways to study in order to succeed.

Overall, I enjoyed college. My first semester was entirely made up of learning experiences. It has been emotionally and academically difficult but I know I'm now shaped into a better student. I am certainly ready to take on the next semester.