During my first semester of college, I would constantly ask myself a very important question: who am I, and who do I want to be? Going to college grants people the unique opportunity to begin to redefine who they are. This process of self-realization and change is a great thing, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t entail stress, confusion, and mayhem.

First and foremost, a college student must begin to make choices about the type of person they want to be. From the way one speaks to others to the way in which one holds themself, these choices are subtle but powerful in defining one’s identity. Many students will make the choice to smoke, a habit they might have picked up due to college stress or carried with them as a result of the way they were raised. Vices aren’t the only choices to be made however, one will also need to decide their own personal qualities. Even though my parents impressed the idea that cursing made one look bad upon me, I find my language peppered with such “flavorful” words. With no one around to tell you can or can’t act a certain way, every personal quality becomes a personal freedom.

A college student will also have to make choices about the type of student they want to be. Some students have a helping hand during high school from their parents. While I didn’t have more than I asked for, others were able to use their parents as a resource. This isn’t the case in college, where a student’s work is entirely their own. This pushes a student to decide what grades they want, and thus how much effort they want to put into their schoolwork. I was surprised at the fact that if I didn’t feel like waking up and going to class, there was no one around who would force me to or question my decision. In college, a grade is a true reflection of one’s efforts and sacrifices.

There were many days during my first semester where I was overcome by loneliness. While I was surrounded by a whole new world of people, I didn’t yet have someone who I felt comfortable opening up to as much as I wished I could. Keeping my thoughts and feelings to myself was difficult, especially during such a tumultuous time. Although college can be the end of long-standing friendships and relationships, it also can be the start of new ones that might be even more meaningful. Without curfews and other limitations, the opportunities a college student has to explore and adventure are endless. For many, this will be the first time in their life when they can try things they’ve always wanted to.

College is the bridge between childhood and adulthood. While there is a lot of fun to be had, that doesn’t mean the process is necessarily an easy one. One thing that kept me confident and involved in the world around me was knowing that every other freshman was going through the same trials and tribulations as I was. While the thought of me deciding who I want to be scares me, it also makes me happy to know I finally have the opportunity to do so.