Let me start off by saying, welcome. Welcome to the best years of your life. College is the first time you're going to be living on your own and the independence can be overwhelming.

This time last year I was in my first week of college. I decided on moving 2 hours away from all of my friends and family. Let me tell you, the first month of college was the hardest. I lived in a building with about 120 other students, and somehow my only friend was my roommate. I had gotten to the point where I was considering leaving school and going back into my comfort zone in Connecticut. I had lived in the same town my whole life, I had friends who I grew up with. For me that was a hard adjustment to not have those people around me at all times.

At my school the dorm buildings are co-ed (boys and girls live together). Maybe everyone was more sociable than me but it all seemed like they were already friends and I didn't want to intrude. We would exchange a friendly "hello" or "hey" when we would pass each other but it wasn't going to be much more than that.

It wasn't until I started having roommate problems that I found myself walking around my building or in the study that I realized these people weren't so bad. The people of the 3rd floor Monadnock soon became my people. They single handedly were the reason I made it through my freshman year with a little bit of sanity left.

So if you're a freshman and you find yourself sitting in your dorm room missing your friends and family. If you're worried about not making friends, open your door and introduce yourself to every person who walks by. Because lets face it, you're going to be stuck with these people until May. If you're not interested in being friends with the people you live with, go to some of the school sponsored events! You never know who you'll meet! Living with people who you like makes it so much better. And most importantly give it time!! And when you finally find your people, you'll know it.