It’s not easy changing up the comfortable life you’ve lived for 18 years to go to college. It’s a whole lot harder moving over 1,500 miles away. It’s even MORE difficult not knowing what the heck you want to do with your life. If any of these situations describes you then please know that you are not alone. I moved from the little town of Las Cruces, New Mexico, to come to the College of Charleston and I get asked often, “Why Charleston?” I’ve been asked this so often that my answer is practically engraved in the back of my head. “Oh you know, I’ve always wanted to go far away, and once I saw the campus how could I not pick Charleston?” Perfect right? Well, the truth is that I haven’t really decided what I want to be when I grow up yet, and I basically just blindly chose a school because it was far away and I wanted to see the world. Don’t get me wrong though, I don’t regret my decision! I love where I live now! As I am finishing out my freshman year, I’ve been reflecting on what I’ve learned about being independent for the first time. I wish that someone had shared this advice with me before I left for college, and it is my hope that they can help anyone struggling with the transition to college.
1. PICK A GOOD ROOMMATE
I know sometimes there isn’t anything you can do to prevent the dreaded psycho, but do everything that you can to prevent that because a roommate can seriously make or break your first-year experience. I definitely recommend living in a suite-style dorm with more than two people. The chances of you disliking all of your suitemates are slim, so if you end up not liking a suitemate/roommate, you won’t be trapped. Before selecting a roommate randomly, try joining a Facebook group online with girls in your class and see if you find anyone you connect with there. This way you can talk before the semester starts and get to know each other. Finally, don’t ONLY hang out with your roommate. It’s great if you are friends with your roommate, and you should definitely foster that relationship, but branch out a little bit and make some other friends as well.
2. DON’T BE SHY
In my case, I have found that being shy is social suicide. In order to make friends, you’ve got to put yourself out there. Join a club, sorority, get a job, take a Harry Potter class! If you do things that interest you, you’ll find people that share the same interests as you as well. I know it’s cliché, but it’s so true. Also, don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t happen right away. It takes time to make a true friend.
3. RELAX!
Calm down and stop stressing. Yes, you need to study, and yes, you need to get good grades for your future, but don’t kill yourself with stress. It is okay to let loose every now and then. You won’t have a very happy four years of college if all you do is stay cooped up in your tiny twin bed worried about things you don’t have control over. Take a breather for a moment and whisper to yourself that everything happens for a reason and worrying will only make your hair fall out. Who wants that!?
4. CALL YOUR FAMILY
Most of us college girls don’t live near our families and sometimes we need our mommas even when we don’t realize it. Chances are they are needing to hear from you too. Life gets hard when you’re on your own and sometimes a good two-hour phone call with the people you love can make you feel like a different person. Even a 2 minute “Just wanted to say hi and I love you” can flip your mood completely. I don’t know about you, but I definitely took my family for granted and didn’t know how much I needed/ relied on them before I moved away. Take the time in your busy college schedule to put some effort into relationships that are important because when life gets hard, they’re the ones who will always be there.