College is not easy, and I think the media paints a picture of college that may not ring true to all. As a first-generation college student, it is hard to navigate something as huge as Ohio State. Your first semester does not define your entire college career, but during it, it definitely feels like it is the end all be all. I made mistakes and I did a few things right, so here are 5 things I learned during my first semester at The Ohio State University.
- It Is okay to miss home
-
When I moved in at the beginning of the semester, I was shocked at how much I missed home. I was so embarrassed when I could not stop crying after my mom left. And for the first few weeks, I felt like I could not get my footing at all. It was like I was so lost, and I felt as if was the only one. It took talking to other people and opening up about how I felt to realize I was nowhere near alone. Everyone feels something like this, to different extents. My best advice is to let yourself feel sad, appreciate the things you had and be open to new things coming your way.
- Join student Orgs
-
I cannot recommend this enough, I was fortunate enough to have people older than me give me amazing advice to join student orgs and attend events. Ohio State is a HUGE school, and it is easy to get lost. If you join different orgs, you will find there are people looking out for you. You may not find your niche right away – and that is seriously okay! It may take time to find the perfect org but keep trying and don’t give up, you will meet some seriously amazing people along the way.
- College is different from high school – it is okay to fail
-
As someone who never had to study in high school and never worried too much about my grades, the first semester was a serious wake up call. I had to learn how to study before I even started to study anything for my classes. I learned it is okay to struggle, but to make sure I reach out for help. Ohio State offers so many resources to make sure you succeed, but it is up to you to reach out.
- Be a “yes” man – but also learn how to say no
-
This one varies depending on the type of person you are. One of the most common pieces of advice you will get from everyone is to “be a yes man”, or say yes to everything, no matter what. Although I do agree it is important to not sit in your room at all hours a day, do not overcommit yourself. I am someone who requires alone time to recharge, and being a yes man contradicts that. So yes, make plans and go out with new people, be a yes man those first few weeks, but don’t forget to prioritize yourself and your wellbeing. Remember to recharge in any way you see fit.
- Find out who you want to be
-
The first few weeks, or even months, at a new place can be overwhelming. Between making friends and navigating classes, it is seriously hard to focus on yourself. Once things died down, I started to understand the gravity of the situation; I am a freshman in college at a new city, who do I want to be. It may seem early to think about what kind of person you want to be everyday, and of course this is subject to change, but I think truly thinking about what good habits and skills you want to have before you graduate. Finding things I’m truly passionate about last semester enabled me to do things that will get me farther, this semester. College is the perfect time to find out who you want to be, and at a school like Ohio State, there are very few limitations to the opportunities you can find.