Your senior year of high school is slowly coming to an end. You are saying your goodbyes to some people you have known since kindergarten. It then comes time to leave the close friend group you've had for the past four years of your life. Everything you have known within yourself is about to make a complete 180 all because of one word: college.
When you say it, it doesn't sound too terrifying, right? But then you begin thinking......
What will I do without my best friends?
Without my parents?
Will my pets forget about me?
How will I survive without playing a sport everyday of my life?
All of these questions flood your thoughts, but do not fret for college is all about finding your place and stepping out of your comfort zone. I will be the first person to say I was completely terrified of making the transition from my high school, with kids I have known since I was 6, to a university full of new faces from not only different cities, but different countries. If you met me as my high school self you would not believe I am the same person due to college bringing so much change into my life.
So, fast forward from high school graduation to your first day on campus. You feel timid, yet full of excitement because hopefully you are at your dream school, which for me was Missouri State. Walking around that campus at first, was the scariest yet most thrilling experience of my life thus far. More thoughts began flooding my brain and they mostly had to do with how was I going to fit in? The first night on campus MSU had an event called Bear Bash to welcome all the incoming students. Here you were introduced to many different organizations and of course the biggest of them all was FSL (Fraternity and Sorority Life.) The FSL community is not the only way to get involved and find your place, but me being the typical girl I am, they automatically caught my eye. I began talking to many different groups of girls and before I knew it, I was signed up and ready for next week, the week of formal recruitment.
I know FSL is not for everyone, but for me it did help me find my place within Missouri State. I fell in love with the girls as I walked through houses for they were dedicated to what they stood for and I knew I wanted to be apart of something so strong. For me this is how I found myself and my place through college. Finding my forever home away from home through my sorority has made me grow into someone I love and am proud of. I am dedicated to our work as a whole and what we strong dependent women stand for. If you find something you are passionate about and feel at home while doing so, then you to will find your place in college. College is all about growing and becoming a strong individual.
All in all take steps out of your comfort zone. Find things you are passionate about and can become dedicated to. If one thing isn't for you that is okay because there is plenty of other opportunities and groups in the college community to get involved in. Some way or another you will find your place.
