I’m officially halfway through my college career. My heart is breaking that college will end for me in two short years, but of course, there’s another part that is so excited for the journey beyond.
I can still remember the day I moved into college. I was racked with anxiety and pulsating with pure fear. I was going to be dropped in a vast social ocean with no hope of a buoy. The first night I couldn’t sleep. I was so worried I was going to have to pretend to be someone else so other people would like me. I was frightened of classes and talking to professors. Campus was so unfamiliar. My stomach was in knots the whole first week.
One of the essential pieces of advice is to be yourself. In high school, I was weighed down by my past because throughout all my academic years, some people still knew me as who I was in middle school or even elementary. So I felt like I had a reputation stuck to me. When I got to college, I felt like I could be myself without fear of rejection or insecurity. You will find your people, the people who care about you and enjoy your company.
Speaking of finding your people, you need be open. Being open to new people and experiences is what has made me the happiest college student. I used to only have female friends for as long as I could remember. In fact, I never tried to be friends with men because assumed I was too socially awkward around them. This held me back in a lot of ways. But at college, I put myself out there. I found out that I can be just as good of friends with girls as with guys. Some of my best friends now are men. Adding onto that, try to dive into campus events and clubs. It’s another great way to meet people outside of classes and follow interests that excite you. I’ve been writing for Her Campus for over two years now. I have had so many great memories with this campus club and I can’t imagine my college career without it.
I spent a lot of time my first semester of college with friends. We would stay out late and I would skip class constantly. As you can imagine, by second semester I had to rework how I divided my time. It was really hard to try to spend an equal amount of time on academics and friends. I would study till I passed out from exhaustion or have so much fun with friends that I was forgetting homework assignments. It feels really nice to hangout with friends and not worry about classes, but college is also about academics. Doing your homework, studying for exams, and making good impressions on your professors is crucial. But learning how to balancing school and social life is key for college success and being content with your own mental health.
It is always important to keep track of yourself. Providing time for you to be alone and stay in touch with your goals and hobbies will create a happier and healthier environment. The fear of not missing out is so real, don’t let anyone tell you it isn’t. But letting the anxiety that enjoyable things are happening without you dictate your life is harmful. Time for yourself matters. College is about finding yourself and being that person unconditionally. You cannot lose yourself in other people.
Don’t worry too much about the future. Obviously have a basic plan, but the details will fall into place. I know as a freshman I constantly stressed about my major and minor along with the required classes I needed to take. Stress is the enemy of a college student. You have resources to help you plan out each semester of each year and even after that. There are people on your side. You are not alone.
Lastly, you’re here to learn and achieve. You’re also here to laugh and smile. You’re here to discover and mix. Try to blend each of these ideas into your years. Do everything that you can. Try to explore. Open your eyes and gaze onto your future with a clear mind and an open heart.