As of May 2nd, I’ve officially finished my first year at Mount Holyoke. I’m typing this from my house while staring at the piles of boxes sitting on the floor, waiting to be unpacked. It’s crazy to know that a year ago I hadn’t even graduated from high school yet! Going to college has been such a life-changing experience. I feel like I’ve learned more about myself in the last eight months than I have in my life. In many ways, I think college has made me a better person. I’ve learned so many things while at Mount Holyoke, but I’ll share a handful of them below! I hope many other MHC students can agree with these as well!
1. Don’t feel like you have to love college right away.
I was a nervous, jittery wreck on move-in day. I had slept about four hours the night before and I remember my stomach was twisted in knots all that morning. I was extremely nervous to go to college and be on my own. It was a new experience for me to live far from home because my older sister goes to school close to my house, so I wasn’t used to the idea of being at least an hour away. I’m very attached to my family so living away was tough for me. For the first few weeks of college I hated it. I wasn’t used to being in a dorm, sharing a bathroom with twenty other people, or eating dining hall food. Honestly, it felt like summer camp. I felt ashamed for feeling that way, but then, after talking to other students, I realized it was normal to feel that way. Jumping from high school to college in a few months is a tough transition for anyone to make. If you have strong feelings of homesickness, let yourself cry, or feel upset. It’s better to let the gross feelings out than keep them bottled in.
2. Find a way to get involved with the community.
I didn’t join any clubs my first semester of college, in order to give myself time to adjust to the workload and new lifestyle. I don’t regret my decision, but part of me does wish I had found something to do then. I’ve loved the tight-knit community at Mount Holyoke from the first time I laid eyes on the school my senior year of high school, but I felt a bit distant from it my first semester. I didn’t do much except go the library, my dorm, and the dining hall. This being said, I was so happy I decided to get more involved my second semester. I started tutoring at Holyoke High School, mentoring at the Gorse Children’s Center, and joined Her Campus! Being in all three of these organizations made me feel much more welcome and a part of the community. It also prevented me from becoming bored throughout the week, which I absolutely loved. I know it can sometimes feel awkward to join a new club/org, but once you go to your first meeting and realize how open and friendly everyone is, you’ll forget why you were ever worried!
3. Get to know your roommate.
Before arriving on campus, my roommate Sarah and I had spoken a bit on Facebook last summer. I remember sending her a message saying I was super excited to room together and meet in person; she was such a lovely person to talk to. Although we couldn’t talk much at the time, we’d planned out what we were bringing to the dorm room. When we met on move-in day any awkwardness I’d been worried about disappeared the moment we started talking. Sarah and I both knew we wanted the school year to be as good as possible so throughout the year we made sure to always communicate with each other. It worked out beautifully and I’m happy to say we’ve become good friends and will be rooming together next year as well! I know that not everyone likes the person they room with, but I definitely think it’s important to make an effort to get along with your roommate. After all, you will be sharing a room with them for eight months!
4. Treat yourself once in awhile!
I’m not someone who works well when stressed out. I know some people who use stress as a way to get work done, but I tend to freeze up when I get anxious about completing a paper on time, or studying for a test. Usually, I just listen to music to calm myself down, but there have been times where not even music has helped. If I’m at the point of giving up, I decide to treat myself to something small, like a Chef Jeff cookie, a hot chocolate, or a small bag of Sour Patch Kids. It’s amazing how much better I feel after rewarding myself with candy! No one needs to suffer from stress to the point where it affects their health—so take a break from studying and buy yourself something delicious. I promise it will help in the end!
5. Host a prospective student.
I hosted two prospective students this year: one in the fall, and one in the spring. I saw it as a great opportunity to not only meet students who are considering coming to Mount Holyoke, but also a chance to help out Admissions! I loved meeting both girls who stayed overnight. They were both very friendly and sweet and had a ton of questions about MHC. As I listened to their questions and tried my best to answer them, I realized just how close I’ve grown to the school. I know campus like the back of my hand and consider it to be my second home. I think hosting a prospie is a perfect way to show them your view of the school and give them a one-on-one tour. If you have the time, I definitely recommend hosting someone! Who knows, maybe they’ll be convinced to join campus in the future after staying with you!
Mount Holyoke College is quite a special place. It’s a place filled with so many opportunities and people from all over the world. I’ve only been a member of the MHC community for eight months now, but I already feel so attached to it and call it my second home. I hope other Mount Holyoke students who read this feel the same way I do!
If you would like to write for Her Campus Mount Holyoke, or if you have any questions or comments for us, please email mt-holyoke@hercampus.com.