The college experience is supposed to be the best years of your life. Everyone is quick to tell you that this is your prime and these years will inevitably set the course for the rest of your life. No pressure right? The idea of what college will be like is pushed into your mind. Imagine back before you even stepped foot on your campus. What were you expecting? Scary professors, impossible assignments, or maybe late nights with your friends. Even with all of the things I had imagined about college, there are still some things that I just wasn’t prepared for.
In the movies, there is always the classic moment where the college student says goodbye to their family or friends. As difficult as that is, the hardest part is not the first day or even week. For me, once I got into my daily schedule and felt comfortable at my own place, I started to long for home. I realized how much I took advantage of seeing my family on a day to day basis. Whether it was just eating dinner or saying goodnight before bed, I found myself excited to be able to go home and see them. Most college students are ready to get out of the house, but personally I’ve found that it’s not nearly as luxurious as you may think. Chances are you will miss home more than you expect and that’s okay. Call your family, keep up with your friends at other universities, and don’t lose the relationships of the loved ones in your life.
When I went into my first college class, I was prepared to be stressed to the max. After hearing high school teachers go on and on about how professors “won’t be this nice” and “don’t care”, I expected college courses to feel impossible. Though college isn’t a walk in the park, it’s not nearly as stressful as it was made out to be. Yes, it takes hard work and dedication to be successful, but the professors are there to help not hurt you. There are plenty of resources on campus to take advantage of if you’re struggling. From computer labs, tutoring sessions, to the writing center, you can successfully manage your stress. The professors and administration’s goal is for you to succeed, learn, and virtually reach your career dreams. The stress support is something I didn’t see coming, but am beyond grateful for.
As a highschooler, I was involved in an abundance of organizations and clubs. Juggling those extracurriculars and academics could be challenging at times. Going into college, I knew I wanted to become involved in campus activities and clubs, but I didn’t want to push my studies on a back burner. I was reluctant at first, but as I began to see all of the organizations around campus, I realized that I could find a spot that was right for me. Getting involved around campus was a great decision for me because I could get involved in areas of my degree that I wanted to become invested in, and the wide variety of clubs make it possible for everyone to find the group that’s right for them. After joining organizations on campus, I saw how understanding they are with school and other events happening in your life. Don’t skip out on getting involved, it’s doable and worth it.
Overall, I’ve loved college. Making new friends and learning about things I’ll be using the rest of my life has been memorable so far, and I only expect to continue to make memories. It’s not an easy adjustment, that’s for sure, but the bumps are worth it in the long run. I can’t say that these four years will be the best of my life, but I can already tell they’ll be the ones that I’ll look back on for a lifetime.