My first year in college began a little differently than it did for anyone else.
Because I was a part of a scholarship program that required me to have an early orientation and a separate move-in day, I managed to get a head start on learning more about my campus, the ins and outs of the dining hall, and the numerous buildings only days before others did, but regardless, it's still a nerve-racking experience for anyone!
You're just off of your senior summer, you've spent the last twenty-four hours speed packing every suitcase and vacuum-sealable bag you have, your family already has that puppy-dog look of both love and fear in their eyes. You have quite the ride ahead of you.
Move-in day is going to be hectic no matter what you do.
From maneuvering between everyone else arriving on campus at the same time, the randomly placed signs directing you to the wrong dorm at least twice and then the grueling unpacking process where you slowly realize you that you just might have forgotten your favorite shorts one-hundred miles away from your new, stylishly decorated room, it is a fast-paced process.
It happens to all of us, and it's okay to feel unsure, or even a little frightened. The unknown can be a scary place, and college is full of learning about yourself, others, your community and the world as a whole.
One of the biggest things that you can do during your first few weeks of college, no matter how cheesy it sounds, is to allow yourself to keep an open mind.
Whether you're shy or extroverted – or somewhere in between – you will meet lots of new people, and although you may not always remember their names, it's important to say hi and form bonds with others!
You never know; once club fair rolls around, you might be seeing the same faces and begin making great friendships that can last a lifetime.
Another step that will help you quickly get accustomed to campus and people within the community can be making sure to go to most of the orientation events and drop by areas like the dining hall.
It is around high-traffic locations like this one that you will likely find cool posters for interesting and fun activities, as well as meet and greets and many opportunities to serve within your community and take on many different roles on campus!
Give yourself time.
Between orientation activities, the beginning of classes, and the introduction to dorm life and communal living, it is okay to take lots of time for yourself to relax and get adjusted.
For some, it is simple to become accustomed to their new lives in college but it's also okay to ask for some time to give yourself the self-care you might need and definitely deserve! The first two weeks of college for me felt like a blur, and by the time classes began I was already wiped out and tired.
Looking back, I wish that I would have planned out my courses more between activities, organized my room (and life) more before school started, and even catch a little bit of more rest! It may be hard, but college is all about managing time, so get started before it gets harder!
Find time to do the things you love, and especially the things that remind you of home. While this is a must, also try to look for new things to try, like the special at your college's local café's or that one club that sounds interesting to you but also sounds completely daunting (like karate, for me).
Even if you just go to one meeting and decide it isn't for you, you can say you tried, and it will keep your mind off of being homesick!
Lastly, you will see your family again. Although they may seem further than ever before, this is an important step in your life. You are meant to learn your own stride and find the perfect path for you.
My first year I decided to change one of my majors, and although it wasn't what my family and I had discussed originally, they knew it was what I thought would benefit me the most and make me the happiest in the long run. In college I am fortunate enough to be able to mold my future and college will give you the same power!
There are so many great opportunities to grow in college – more than you ever could have imagined in high school – and it is here that you will make lasting relationships, build important skills which will aid you whether you're at work or in school, and you will grow into yourself.
You may begin to go on the path to your dream job or life (maybe you'll finally become a rock star after years of answering the "what do you want to do when you grow up" question, because really, I still feel like I'm six half the time) or you might find out who you want to become and learn about yourself first.
Do not fear your first two weeks, or your first two months, or your first two years, because in reality, every day is a step in a new direction, and although it may seem daunting at first, you've got this!
