The fact that I can call myself a junior in college is astounding. It was only two years ago that I entered my freshman year, and yet it still feels so recent. With that being said, in these past two years I have grown so much as a person and I continue to learn and discover new traits about myself. Based on my personal experience, here are some tips to help you transition smoothly into your life at college!
Get out of your comfort zone
This piece of advice I cannot stress enough, because as a freshman myself, I did not venture out as much as I should have. The reason I say this is because when you are a freshman on campus, every other freshman also wants to make friends and find a place where they belong. Keep in mind that finding your niche can be trial and error, but that shouldn’t discourage you from putting yourself out there. There will be so many types of people out there, and as long as you try, you are already succeeding.
Introduce Your Authentic Self to Others
Coinciding with stepping outside your comfort zone also comes with authenticity. It is very common to start acting the way other people are in hopes they will like you and accept you. This may work temporarily, but definitely not long-term. Eventually, you will get tired of trying to be someone you are not, and will find that such friendships are rather exhausting instead of fulfilling. Instead, if you only showcase your authentic personality and just be yourself, the right kind of people for you will be drawn to you. Trust me when I say this because the last thing you want is to spend half of your college career being friends with someone who turned out to be someone you don’t get along with. I found my main friend group as a sophomore, and I couldn’t be more grateful for them because they accept me for who I am and vice versa.
Learning to Balance Social Activities and Academics
This is something I am still learning to do because each semester I have a new schedule and cannot always implement the same routine as I had done in previous semesters. Once your schedule is finalized, try to join clubs and get involved on campus! It is seriously the best way to get to know others who share similar interests with you, such as Her Campus! I am also a member of UMass CHAARG and the Public Relations Student Society of America. I always try to complete my assignments before social activities, so that I don’t fall behind academically. This semester, I have large blocks in between my classes, so I try to do homework in between classes and after dinner. It may take two to three weeks to get into an established routine, but it feels great once you do!
No matter what year you are in college, these pieces of advice will serve anyone well! As I mentioned earlier, I made my main group of friends sophomore year, so don’t feel that it is ever too late to find your community! I believe that what is meant for you, will never pass you by. UMass has a large campus, and with that comes more opportunities than other smaller colleges. I hope these pieces can resonate with any college student who feels they need a sense of direction!
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