Transitioning from high school to college can be a difficult time: leaving old friends, moving away from home, adjusting to a new atmosphere and more. Here are a few things I learned as a freshman in college that might be helpful to you during your first year.
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I didn’t actually need to bring my entire closet to college. When I arrived at college in August, of course I brought clothes that were suitable for the hot North Carolina fall weather. However, because I was very excited about being off on my own and not planning on going home until winter break, I also brought along all of my heavy winter wear, resulting in an insane amount of clothes stuffed in my tiny dorm closet. Even when keeping half of my wardrobe in storage bins under my bed, I had a huge surplus of clothing that I never wore throughout the entire semester.
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I didn’t spend as much time in the library as I thought I would. Preparing for college, I remember hearing from a lot of older people who said “The library is going to be your best friend.” Part of me worried that I would be bogged down with so much schoolwork that I would actually have to spend many late nights studying in the library, but this turned out to be quite an exaggeration. I’m sure
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There are some dining hall foods that I never get tired of eating. Meal plans are a new part of college living that many freshman get excited about because there is more freedom to choose what you will have for each meal. However, because most food served in dining halls is the same every night it can eventually become boring. But despite never wanting to go to the caf for dinner ever again, I could eat a dining hall chocolate chip waffle for every single meal.
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It’s a lot easier to make friends than you think, but they’re usually based on proximity. When I was preparing to leave for college I became very nervous about whether or not I would actually make any friends or if I would miss the window and everyone would have already decided who they were going to hang out with in college. To my surprise, I found that it was very easy to meet new people who were just as nervous as I was, mostly in my classes or in my dorm. It’s nice to have some friendly faces to help you survive the semester, but sometimes when you no longer live near or have classes with the same people you can fall out of touch. But don’t worry, some will stick around, and there will be awesome new people around you to help you through the next year.
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Homesickness can happen to anyone and manifest in different ways. I really thought I would be the last person to experience homesickness while at college, but still found that there were many things I missed during the school year. I never felt that I wanted to leave college, or that I would rather be back in my hometown, but sometimes it’s hard not to miss your dog, home-cooked meals, or sleeping in your own bed.
There are many things you will learn in your first year of college and everyone’s experience is unique to them, but the most important thing I discovered freshman year was that everyone around you is in the same boat. Everyone gets nervous and worries about little things, but we have each other to help us get by.