Freshman year...

It's the year where you really learn what it is like to be out on your own for the first time. The year when you make new friends that will play a big role in your life. The year of many firsts and experiences that you will never forget.

It's easy to talk about after it's over. To say that the experience of freshman year was something you will always remember because everything was so new. But, when you're living it, it can be hard.

Some people are fiercely independent, so for them it is easy to move on to the college life. But, others are not so independent, so they may have a tougher time moving on from their home lives and going out on their own. Neither of these things are bad, it just means that the experience is different for everyone, so everyone has to cope their own way.

Personally, I am extremely close with my family, so leaving them to live on campus was quite difficult. It wasn't that I didn't have the ability to handle myself, it was just that I didn't want to go.

So, if you're one of those freshman who is feeling homesick for those first few weeks, it is OK. There is nothing wrong with missing your home or your family. It is completely normal for the thought of dropping out and heading back home to cross your mind.

Freshman year it's like everything gets thrown on you at once. You have to leave the place that you've spent 18 years, adjust to living with a complete stranger, learn to make new friends, adjust to the work load of college courses, and so many other things. For those first few weeks, you basically feel like you are taking on the world alone. You no longer have your safety net there to catch you.

But, I promise you that it gets better. There will always be an adjustment period when you start something new. For some people it will be longer than others, but it will work out. You will make friends, you will figure out how to manage your time, you will get used to being apart from your family and home.

And there are always ways to help with the transition. Get involved... join a club or a sport, this is a surefire way to ensure that you will find friends with common interests. Call your family regularly... sometimes just a phone call can make things seem less horrible. Buy an agenda... these little babies can be found pretty cheap and come in handy for remembering your assignments and meetings.

It may be hard at first, but it won't last forever. Don't give up too soon, because you'll miss out on an experience of a lifetime.

You've got this!