The summer before the first year of college is very exciting. No one knows what to expect, and the only idea incoming freshmen have are what they have seen on a screen. Expectations of college are that the friends you meet your first year will become your forever friends, that you’ll have the ability to navigate your own life, take whatever classes you want, sleep until noon, have a life with no supervision… basically a wild life full of freedom and hope. The thing about this stereotypical image is that most students do not have this life, unless they are lying or stretching the truth, but the “first year of college is no movie” reality sets in the first couple of weeks.
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What is the reality?
The real truth is that you will sacrifice, cry a lot, and doubt yourself many times throughout the academic semester. Although, there are resources that are not shown on screen, like the abundance of tutoring services, free food provided by the food pantry (if necessary), and student support services such as counseling, health and financial services offered on campus. These resources are at every student’s disposal, because the reality is college is STRESSFUL, and I can not stress that enough.
Learning the hard way
As an incoming freshman, I did not know what to expect from college. I, too, only knew what I saw in the movies. I knew it would not be the exactly the same, but I also was not expecting to feel how I still feel sometimes. I did not understand the difficulties of the actual classes I was taking, and ended up taking too much for my first semester. I felt lost and did not know exactly what I wanted to do. But I joined clubs and I am in student support services, who at first I did not think much of, but now, almost two months in to my first semester of college and about to approach midterms, I have come to realize that they are a lot more beneficial than I expected. I am no longer homesick because I have met people, not only in my classes and in the dorms, but also in clubs that I have joined. I put myself out there more and go to activities on campus to try and de-stress. Yes, I put a lot of effort into my schoolwork, but I also try to have fun.
Don’t forget to have your movie moments and have fun.
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So how can students decompress? Well, yeah, it is true there are parties that occur, spontaneous socials, concerts and lots of freebies to attend. Student life is no joke (unlike our first year grades); the majority of events on campus are sponsored by ASCLUG. Getting involved in all aspects of student life is key. Academic success is essential, social life is helpful, and meeting new people is beneficial.