Florida State University was established in 1851, but it wasn’t formally established for me until Jan. 8, 2024. This was my first day as an FSU student. I’ve dreamed of going to FSU since I could remember, but being an out-of-state student made that fantasy difficult. I started my college career fresh out of high school and moved from an “everybody knows everybody” town in North Carolina to a fairly large city. My journey started at Tallahassee Community College (TCC), where I was able to get ahead and surpass others my age. I finished my Associate’s degree in Arts in a year and a half. By doing this, I was able to establish Florida residency for tuition purposes and enter FSU as not only a Florida resident but also a transfer student.
I started FSU as a junior by credit hours, but a sophomore by grade year. In the limbo of this sophomore/junior transition, anxieties began to form that were similar to those existing as a freshman. The fears of not being able to find classes, parking, and making friends arose once more after having to shift from a campus I was just getting comfortable with to a new one entirely. I soon learned that I’d have to face these fears again as if I were restarting college.
I was able to find parking on my first day in the lovely St. Augustine garage, my host for the semester thus far. People have been extremely pleasant towards me, smiling and willing to answer any questions I had. FSU has attempted to make my transition as seamless as possible and has done a decently good job at it, other than not warning me about the unnecessarily tall hill I would have to trek up from the St. Augustine garage to my classes every day.
In all seriousness, the anxieties that exist when going to a new school aren’t alleviated after a couple of weeks. I’ve learned that I’m in a freshman’s shoes with knowledge of Tallahassee under my belt. Contrary to usual freshman fears, I faced some different challenges as a transfer student. A transfer junior/sophomore student who came from TCC was somewhat frowned upon by other classmates not because I had to start at a different college, but because I’m technically a sophomore based on the time I’ve been in school, but am a junior by credits.
Another anxiety that exists with being a transfer student is my class schedule. I didn’t have orientation until three days before classes began and more than two months after everyone else (even freshmen) chose classes. I was left with night classes, meaning I’m forced to navigate the new large campus in the dark.
FSU itself is a beautiful campus with tall oak trees, brick buildings, and yummy restaurants. The school has offered me several resources to feel safe and secure including the emergency poles spread throughout campus. I have the transfer student services to go to for my transfer student needs, along with a transfer mentor. I have several different areas to go for safety along with an Instagram page that keeps me up to date on weather and any other campus breaking news.
I’ve found the campus accommodating to these fears that have existed within me during my transition. However, the identity of a transfer student is one that I’m still learning to handle as I navigate my new school. I’m not sure if the persona of a transfer student will ever leave me, but I’ll learn how to embrace the title proudly. I’ll learn to experience FSU in my way for the time I have there. It may not be as long as others, but I’m proud to be a student at Florida State University nonetheless.
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