Unless you’re crazy, lying to yourself, or one in a million, your first semester at college probably sucked. The food was bad, the classes were hard, and you missed being able to talk to your friends about everything.
Sure, parties were crazier and more frequent. For the first time in your life, nobody was surprised when you bragged about blacking out 4 times last week. You had freedom to do what you wanted and who you wanted. But, you still woke up in the morning feeling lonely, friendless, confused, and overwhelmed.
No matter how many Instagram pictures you posted showing everybody how happy you were and how many awesome friends you had, you probably got more satisfaction from the likes you were getting than the awkward conversations you were having with your hall mates. Social media showed people from high school that you were having the time of your life, but your friends and family knew what was really up. If you had a nickel for every time someone told you that spring semester would be better or that you’d enjoy college more as time passed, you’d be rich. You took everything people said to you with a grain of salt as you slumped home from the library at 2 a.m. with nobody to complain about your upcoming test to.
While not everything about first semester was bad, you probably did have a tough time adjusting to your new surroundings. You realized that everything your mom warned you about before you left was actually true. Even though your brother and your cousin and your older friends had trouble their first semester, you never believed you’d be in that situation. And that’s because nobody talks about it.
First semester sucks, and then people move on. Nobody wants to dwell on his or her awkward growing period. Everything seems just a little bit less terrible spring semester, and your attitude is suddenly different. You meet people you genuinely care about. You find a new club that you are legitimately interested in. You learn how to study and manage your time. You find upperclassmen with cars and avoid the dining hall as much as possible. Suddenly life is about drinking so much that you can’t remember the party—it’s about partying with people you love.
Ask any upperclassmen about their college experience, and they probably won’t say much about first semester. They’ll talk about their sophomore suite mates and their spring break junior year and their senior honors thesis. They won’t tell you about their terrible GPA from first semester or their constant bickering with their freshman roommate or the weight they inevitably gained.
Even if you think you should be happy when you first come to college because you’re in a sorority, you’re more independent than ever, and you are no longer stuck in your hometown, don’t be ashamed if you find yourself feeling completely alone. Just make sure you don’t talk about it when you come home for Thanksgiving.
