Dear new college student,

Congratulations! Welcome to some of the best years of your life. I know this has been a weird transition for most, and scary for others. For me, one year ago today, I was terrified. I had been thinking about college and what I wanted to do, and the thought of having to have my life together was overwhelming. Worry was something that consumed me, and I began to wonder if I really belonged in my school and if I was going to do well or buckle under the pressure. I stressed over midterms as if they were going to determine whether I would be successful in life. I limited my interactions with people because I was scared that people wouldn’t like me.

But I was wrong to live my first year of college in fear. Don’t get me wrong, most people do, but college is such a key part to growing up, and it’s more than just learning information that will help you in your field. It’s about finding the type of people you enjoy being around, discovering the things you love, and learning to live life to the fullest. It’s a place of new beginnings rather than endings. College can be a place you get involved in activities you would’ve never done in high school. It can be an awesome place, but you have to be willing to embrace it. Here’s how.

Try not to go home all the time.

Family is something that has always been important to me. When I moved away from them, I specifically chose a college that would allow me to come home whenever I needed. Which is a blessing and a curse. My first semester of freshman year, I was so home sick and desperately wanted to feel the comforts that home provided. I would go home on weekends and things weren’t the same as they used to be, but I was still miserable when I had to leave. Here’s an important tip. College is not all about studying and tests and papers. The weekends are usually when everyone wants to go out and do things! So I missed out on a lot of hiking trips and movie nights that I now wish I could’ve gone to. Just remember that going home is good, but plan it out so that you have time to meet and hang out with people on campus.

Get involved.

The task of meeting people can be daunting, but there are some easy ways to get connected with people who have a lot in common with you. Obviously, if you go to a big state school, a quick way to meet people is to join a fraternity or sorority. However, being from a small Christian college, we have other ways to feel plugged in around campus. There are multiple clubs that you can participate in that relate to your major and interests. There, you will find people you can relate to. Or maybe you want to try something different. College is a great place to explore new interests. Who knows, it might even become your passion.

Be real with people.

If you’re still worried about whether or not people will like you, you may still have a high school mindset. Living in the cutthroat realm of high school, it would make sense that you are worried about what people will think. However, in college, students are looking for friends who will be real. No more pretending that you’re something you’re not, because all of your peers are looking for genuine stories. They are looking for people that they can laugh with, cry with, and share experiences with. So being yourself is exactly the kind of thing that can make all the difference.

While college may be scary, it’s not unconquerable. It can take time to adjust to the new environment, but you will soon discover it’s for the better. You can make some great memories and friends, but only if you put in the effort. It may be uncomfortable at first but just remember there are hundreds of your fellow classmates going through the exact same thing. You are not alone.