Freshman year is a time of great change and a time of experiencing so many new things. Here are a few thoughts and feelings that easily go along with this new adventure.
1. I don’t know anybody here.
There will be moments when you feel like you don’t know anybody around you. Whether it be the first week in a class, going to the dining hall, or joining a new club, there will be times where you feel alone. It takes time get to know people and to start recognizing faces around campus, and even more time to build actual friendships, if you are willing to put in this effort, you won’t be alone for long.
2. I miss home.
Whether it be because of your friends, your family, your pets, or your hometown you will inevitably miss some aspect of your home. Depending on a lot of factors this homesickness can range from very mild to incredibly overwhelming. Taking time to call the people you miss and having old photos around are both helpful ways of keeping the feeling close by. The important thing to remember is to not let these feelings keep you from be open-minded or appreciative of your new environment and all the opportunities you now have.
3. I have no real friends.
Building meaningful and lasting relationships takes time. Many of the people you meet and the friends you make in the first few weeks of school will not be the people you chose to keep as your close friends; you meet so many new people, not all of them can be your best friend. College is a time where most people are still trying to figure themselves out and a time of change, it is natural that friendships you make will change as well. If you put in the effort, you will find the friends worth keeping.
4. I’m being starved.
Even if your dining hall is ranked as one of the best in the country, you get sick of the food. The fajita bar is great the first couple times you have it, but after eating fajitas every Monday for two months, it will no longer be great. The sandwich bar is life-changing the first time you try it, so you have it every day for lunch for three weeks; you won’t be able to eat a sandwich now for six months. It will get bad, you will suck it up and figure out how to feed yourself one way or another.
5. I love all my classes.
Everything feels exciting, your classes are interesting, you feel like you’re learning so much. You’re reading material is enthralling, you have great ideas for the next paper you’re going to write, the last test you took went great. Ride these highs for as long as you can, remember how good it feels.
6. I hate all my classes.
There will be lulls in your excitement. There will be days you don’t want to go to class. As much as you may be interested in the topic of the class, there will be discussions you would rather not participate in, lectures you would rather not attend, projects you would prefer not to do, and papers you just don’t want to write. You feel like you’re drowning in all your work, and days you just don't have any motivation. Push through. It can and will get done. It will get better.
7. I am homeless.
Whether it be because you locked yourself out or because your roommate asked to have the room for a while, the time comes when you feel like you have no place to go. All you want is to lay down in your own bed. It sucks, it can be wildly uncomfortable, you feel like people are staring at you. It will be okay, it’s only temporary.
8. I’m learning SO much.
This feeling can occur during a test, while writing a paper, while in class, or even in a casual conversation with friends. You may not always feel like you’ve been learning all that much, but then you’re asked a question about a class you’re taking and you can go on for 10 minutes with your answer. You can surprise even yourself on occasion with what you know and what you’ve learned.
9. I have no idea what I want to do with my life.
It’s okay not to know. Some people start their first year thinking they know exactly what they want, but this will change, at least to some extent. There is plenty of time to figure it out, and there are always people around to help you with this. Take your time.
10. I have never been this exhausted.
Living a healthy lifestyle can often be forgotten, especially with the busy life of a college student, but things such as exercise, diet and amount of sleep can significantly impact how we feel throughout the day. Keeping these things in mind can help with this feeling of exhaustion.
11. I don’t have enough time.
There are so many things that have to get done, so many things that should get done, and so many things you want to get done. You can’t do it all, it’s impossible. Find a balance, prioritize your health (mental and physical), always remember that you are here to go to school, but make time for the other things in your life that matter to you.
12. I don’t want to leave.
If you’re lucky, by the end of the year you feel like you have found a place where you’re truly happy. This makes it incredibly hard to leave, and absolutely horrible to say goodbye to the friends you’ve made, but you’re excited to come back next year, and that’s what’s important.
By the end of your first year, you've had sometime to get your foot in the door and feel as though you've made some progress. While there will still be many more changes to come in the nest three years, hopefully you've found a place that makes you happy enough to stay.
