Look, freshmen have every right to be nervous about their first year of college. They are transitioning from something they've been comfortable with to something brand new. There is no knowing who their professors will be or how challenging classes will be. There are dozens of things swirling through their minds about what could go wrong. However, freshmen aren't the only ones with school jitters.
Very soon I will be starting my junior year of college. It starts a week from now and I'm already losing sleep thinking about all changes coming my way. I've got to move into a house and see how that works. I'll have bills to pay and roommates that I've never lived with before. I'll have to shop for groceries, go to classes, and go to work. It isn't easy to think about how many new things I will be learning to do, and all the while I have to keep up with my schoolwork for all of my new and unfamiliar professors.
I understand that being nervous is something a lot of people feel, but I'd like one year of school where I know I'll be okay. I'd like to think about the year ahead with a smile on my face, but right now I feel a lot of fear behind that smile about whether or not I'm going to make it through this next year. I feel just as nervous as I did freshmen year. The only difference is I'm walking into this year with a friend group already established. I have people that I know I can count on when I'm feeling extra stressed.
I guess the point of this is to let freshmen know that they aren't alone in their fears. Even those of us who know our way around will feel a little lost. Those of us who have already taken college classes will still wonder if we will be able to pass. We will all be surrounded by strangers on a campus and feeling a little alone, but if the people before you have made it through - certainly you can too.