This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Hofstra chapter.
Throughout my first year of college I’ve been documenting my experience. Everyone had told me freshman year should be slowly enjoyed because once it’s over reality comes knocking at your doorstep sooner than expected. In today’s world we don’t have the luxury of boozing through college as some older generations might have but have to build a resume that almost seems bigger than the accomplishments we feel we have actually made. One thing I can agree with is that this year has gone by too quickly and it certainly is true when upperclassmen tell you that everyone changes in college, it all depends on whether you want your change to lead you to a more successful future. I could discuss all the wild and fun memories I’ve had as a freshman but I think it’s only fair to tell you what is rarely talked about which are the not so hot moments. Below is a confession I made at the very start of my journey:
“They say that college is the best four years of your life. In the mere four weeks I’ve had glimpses of the laughter and of the success stories you hear about from alumni who refuse to get over their safe haven. The problem is that nobody talks about the first four weeks as a freshman where you are thrown into the masses and asked to be able to stand up in the crowd. As many times as you try and fake that you’re a natural and the college bliss comes easy to you it’s nearly impossible. I remember in high school as a senior thinking “wow these freshman are so young and naïve”. Never did I imagine that I would become part of the cycle all over again. Yes, I knew some things as a freshman in college but the amount that I thought I knew but didn’t out weighed the previous measure. As a freshman in college I can’t even blame upper classmen anymore for saying how little we know. We all come into college thinking about how much we’ve grown in our high school years and hope that all the life lessons we have learned will quickly spill over. Well no shit. As a high school freshman I was a baby going through the most confusing part of infancy and trying to get one foot in front of the other to walk. As a high school senior I was well into the stages of running with my feet barely touching the ground yearning for those magical four years ahead. That’s the problem that I now face; I haven’t learned to slow down so now I’m in the predicament of a new environment trying to land a solid foot but I can’t. I hope one day I get to that moment where I reflect and can laugh about the stupidity of my peers as freshman but for now it just seems like I’m running in circles, replaying bad choices and have no brakes of control.”
I’d like to say now that as I wrap up my freshman year that I’ve found my footing but the more I think about it I’ve merely hit the point where I know how to “fake it until you make it”. Freshman year is both bliss and misery like any new chapter in life. The only difference is the expectations you’ve built from high school have a very hard time accepting the reality that you have moving forward. The bumps in the road you experience in freshman year could probably total a large truck but the view is great along the way so don’t neglect everything around you because your current situation seems impossible.