Whether you’ve moved around seven times in your life or grew up in the same house through the end of high school, college—and the moving process as a whole—brings about universal change that we all experience and relate to. It can be scary feeling alone at first and having to adjust to a new area. There are several ways to ensure that you get started on the right path.
I transferred to UT from Wake Forest University and although I knew I had several friends from high school here, it was still nerve-wracking thinking about where I was going to find my place. One of the key tips I received for college was to get involved. I know people often think of this message as a bit cliché, but it can be applied to any new situation: whether in college or out. It is imperative to stay active in clubs and activities so that you feel part of a larger community. One of the key mistakes I made at my last school was that I got involved in too many things and they all felt very surface level. Here I have been trying to narrow down my interests and devote myself to what I enjoy doing.
Besides getting involved, it is important to carve time out in your week for yourself. Whether you are introverted or extroverted (and whenever I take the test I am always in the middle) alone time is good for reflection. Every night I try to set around 20-30 minutes for either journaling or reading. This helps to clear my head and think about my goals for the week. Reading also gives me something at the end of the day to look forward to—a healthy practice!
Lastly, one of the most important things I think to do in a new place is to immerse yourself in the area. College isn’t the only part of what Austin has to offer! When I was little whenever we moved to a new city my mom always made sure we took time to explore various parts of it. This helped to start my love for adventure. One of the highlights of attending Wake Forest was that I felt like I really got to explore Winston-Salem and the ins and outs of its culture. I want to do the same with Austin and have started a bucket list on the back of my closet of all the things I want to do here. I have already attended ACL, swam at Barton Springs, and had some pretty good food! I can’t wait to write more for Her Campus about my Austin adventures and seeing Austin through new eyes!