Welcome to the ‘Best Years of your Life.’
We all heard this saying over and over leading up to college. Your senior year of high school was probably spent daydreaming of the midnight Taco Bell runs, raging frat parties and absolute freedom that everyone gains when they move off to college. But now you’re here, and suddenly the reality is not living up to the dream.
First thing’s first: College is lonely.
I’m not going to lie, after your parents say goodbye and the dust of moving into your first dorm room finally settles, things will get a little scary. Some people are lucky enough to have a friend with them to venture through their college years, however, with so many students moving out of town, out of the state, or even out of the country, thousands of college freshman find themselves completely alone in a whole new world.
Moments after my parents got into the elevator, effectively leaving me to fend for myself, I immediately began to panic. Even though I was only an hour and fifteen minutes from home, it felt as though there was an ocean between my hometown and my new home. My best friend and I had picked different schools, my boyfriend was still in high school (only a year younger, don’t judge) and no one from my high school had really joined me in my move to the north. I found myself in a new town with no money, no friends and no idea what I was going to do.
Breaking out
So with all of this strange new territory, how do you begin to find your place in your new world?
- Roommates- a very easy first relationship to form is one with your roommate. Try inviting them to dinner, seeing if they’d like to map out their classes with you on a walk around campus, or even just introducing yourself properly.
- Residence Halls- if you’re living on campus, there a ton of opportunities to meet new people through your hall. Look out for opportunities to join your schools Resident’s Hall Association. And if you don’t want to commit to something like that, you can always go to…
- School-Held Events- Many organizations on campus will throw fun get togethers for students, as a way to promote their club and also bring resident’s out of their rooms.
Slow and Steady
Eventually, your campus will start to feel less terrifying and more like home. But for those days when you get home sick Skype, FaceTime, writing letters, cooking your mom’s signature dish or even just heading home for the day are good ways to curb a bit of the home-sickness.
It Gets Better
My freshman year definitely was not how I expected college to be. I went home most weekends and spent most of my time on campus in my room. But now that I’m a sophomore, I truly love being on my campus. I’ve met great friends, joined tons of clubs, and, even though it seems odd, become more okay with being alone occasionally. I know college can seem like a super difficult thing to dive into, but if you step out of your comfort zone and open yourself to the experience, your campus will truly become your home.
