Entering college can be a scary event for high school graduates and parents but it’s a step towards developing individualism and making decisions on your own to learn. That’s why when coming to college, incoming freshmen must prepare for the new environment and people but must also prepare themselves for the more rigorous college courses and responsibilities. Going to a state university offers its own challenges, but coming to a college like Wabash presents students with a new set of obstacles to overcome.

When I was a freshman I came to Wabash not really knowing what to expect, especially since it was an all-male college, and frankly was not prepared enough to tackle what professors and other faculty threw at me in my first few weeks on campus. Little did I know that when they said I would become a man, they meant almost immediately. Without going through that transformation and understanding what was expected of me at all times, I can assure you I would not be entering my senior year. Looking back on my first year I was lucky enough to find a group of guys that helped me along the way and guided me in the right direction before I fell behind and had to leave the school like others I know. That guidance was key in allowing me to become who I am today and everyone needs to find a support group or system that will allow them to reach their full potential.

Even though I did have a lot of great people around me, I still struggled with academics. I had never really been tested in any of my previous education and pretty much coasted through high school so you can imagine how stressed I was when I had my first chemistry test with no real understanding of what it meant to actually study. I know that may sound pretty typical but incoming freshmen must know how to study and interact with others in order to succeed so they too do not dig a hole they can’t escape themselves.

Now I know this article may be a bit repetitive for those who are not, well, freshmen but it carries a message the freshmen entering Wabash this year--and freshmen going to every college or university--should hear to provide early success at an institution that is difficult all the way through. Coming to Wabash is an achievement in itself, but you can’t celebrate before you experience its academic schedule and settle in after a while. Although it is great to be able to say you go to Wabash college when asked, but attending Wabash doesn’t mean you are ahead in the world. I’ve seen a few people who have that mentality, and as mentioned before they no longer attend the college. Like many that come to Wabash, I thought I was on top since I just graduated high school but was quickly put in my place when school actually started.

Learning how to cope with a new environment and faster paced classes is only the first step towards having a successful college career, but it can be one of the most important. If I would’ve had someone give me advice on the actual academic schedule and expectations it would’ve made my transition from high school to college much easier. So go, spread the word and share with incoming freshmen the ups and downs of what they are about to get themselves into--but refrain from scaring them too much.