As high school seniors, we all dream about our future college experiences, and count down the days until that fantasy becomes our reality. However, this new chapter in our lives may not always go the way we expect. Here are some lessons learned about starting college for the first time.
It will be overwhelming
You will miss your parents
Despite spending the summer thinking “I can’t wait to get out of here,” or “once I’m in college I’ll…”, once your family leaves it’s a completely different story. Suddenly, the people you’ve been surrounded by your whole life, and who’ve been there for every moment, aren’t by your side. And it’s a scary feeling. But though it may seem like everyone else is perfectly fine being separated, that is definitely not the case. It is totally normal to miss your parents, and without a doubt, they miss you too. So pick up the phone and give them a call— it’ll make both sides feel better.
It’s okay to be lonely
You may think that now that you’re in college, life will be a series of parties, nights out, and hanging out surrounded by your new best friends. And it very well may be, but that doesn’t change the fact that, in the beginning, you may still feel an inexplicable feeling of loneliness. And that’s completely normal. For most, college is your first time living alone, and it’s highly unlikely that anyone adjusts 100% right off the bat. And seeing your friends on social media having a blast during their seemingly perfect college experience doesn’t help. But social media only shows the idealistic view of what people want you to see, and often times the same people in the pictures feel just as alienated as you do. So don’t feel bad if you find yourself wishing you were home or feeling a bit lonely. You’ll adjust in your own time, and when you do, it’ll all be okay.
Talk to people
Don’t be nervous to just walk up to a person and begin a conversation, even if they’re with a group of people. It may be hard to remember when it seems like everyone else is established, but every new student is in the same boat as you are, and will likely be more than happy to meet someone new. Even if it seems daunting, just go for it!
Your teachers will be pretty cool
Everyone’s heard the rumors of college professors being distant, uncaring, or thinking about research more than their students. But in reality, college teachers are a lot like high school teachers— which makes them pretty cool! Lots of professors actually love what they teach, and want to give you a good experience in their class. So don’t be afraid to raise your hand, or chat with them after class— you’ve got nothing to lose!
The work load is manageable
Lots of incoming students fear that they won’t be able to stay afloat once they begin their new classes after hearing horror stories about the amount of work college students get. But when it comes down to it, it’s all manageable. Yes, it’s a lot of work, and it’s probably more than you got in high school, but as long as you sit down and dedicate time to your homework, you’ll be able to stay on top of your assignments, do well in your classes, and still enjoy some downtime.
Every day gets better
So maybe your first week of classes didn’t go as planned. Or you find yourself missing your home, friends, and family more than you anticipated. Don’t freak out. College is a big adjustment no matter who you are, and sometimes it takes a little more time to get settled than you plan for. But every day you’ll get a little more used to your new life, and see that it’s not as scary as it initially seemed. No matter how the start of college compared to your expectations, the college experience is yours, so own it!