My Freshman Year Went From Grief To Gratitude | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Relationships

My Freshman Year Went From Grief To Gratitude

No, it’s nothing like they tell you.

25
My Freshman Year Went From Grief To Gratitude
Author's photo

For me, my freshman year was not been exactly what I expected. I expected butterflies in my stomach and happiness radiating through my smile. I expected friends, mostly. Friends everywhere because no one knows anyone yet, and you’re all in the same boat. It’s not really like that though, or at least it wasn’t for me. For me, the first two weeks of my freshman year of college were absolutely awful. I had my roommate, who is one of my best friends from home, and I had a few friends on my floor, but nothing significant to what I expected. While, what felt like, every other person I met was thriving, I was just there. Just going through the motions, trying to be happy, trying to force myself to do better. It truly sucked though to be completely honest and I spent a lot of nights in tears wanting nothing more than to be home in my own bed and in my own room.

But I went on. Hopeful for the future, hopeful for my friends, hopeful for my school. I really enjoyed my classes though and I met some people in those that I consider some of my best friends now. As for my social life outside of those, I was still trying. The first half of the semester friends came and went. Some are still around, most weren’t that important. I truly believed that the friends I made within my first month at college would be my best friends, my friends for the next four years, and then for life. I’m here to tell all of you, or at least the few who are going to go to college at some point, that this is almost completely not true. I can recall maybe one person who was honestly a good friend of mine in September that I know will be around for the future. The rest were just passing by, just fillers for when the real thing starts to happen. Maybe not everyone’s experience was like this, but mine was.

When October and November rolled around, that’s when real friendships sprouted. I began to become really close with my floor, really close with people in my major, and I even started the process of joining a service sorority. I was feeling good about my life, finally. Things still weren’t how I thought they were supposed to be though. Every time I went home on breaks, saw the snapchat stories of people from back home, or went on social media, I was reminded of this irrefutable fact. I was stuck and I was lost, and I felt like I only had a few people who I could count on. I had friends, but none of them felt real to the level you want them to be. People always seemed like they had other, better friends and I was just one of them, not the most important, or even that important, just there.

Once the semester started to reach its close though, I really started to feel positive about the future. I was genuinely happy regardless of the amount of friends that I had or didn't have. I could count the ones that I knew were real on one hand, but that was fine, as long as I knew I had them.

Spring semester has been different. I know what true friendship is now, and I know that what I had last semester wasn't it, but it was something along the way to it. Because last semester, I didn't have nights like I have now. Now, I know that friendship is staying up till 3 AM talking about life with people you know you'll love forever. Friendship is eating too many cupcakes and drinking too much wine while trying to play heads up. Friendship is already planning for a study abroad trip with someone when you both have not yet/may not be accepted to it at all. It's watching too many YouTube videos, it's spending too much money at target and too many hours in a book store, it's laughing until you feel tears running down your cheeks. The friendships I have now are worth so much more than the temporary ones I was settling for last semester because I was told that those were the right ones. The people I know now are the people I want to hang out with in the summer, the people I want to be in my wedding, the people I want my kids to know. It's crazy, it's like we've all had our own completely separate lives up to this point, but yet these are some of the best people I've ever met and ever want to meet.

Overall, my point is that you shouldn’t trust stereotypes about people and about the way you’re told things should be. Because there is no way things 'should' be. There is how they are and how you want them to be. The way you want them to be may not line up with everyone else's way, but that's completely fine. For some people friends obviously take a long time to be made, but that's just how you know they're going to last longer than the day one friends some other people are making.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

The Daily Struggles of Being a College Commuter

It's not all morning coffees and singing along to the radio.

510
The Daily Struggles of Being a College Commuter
morethanwheels

I've been in college for four years now. I spent half my time as a commuter and half as a resident so I've experienced both sides of the housing spectrum. One thing I've learned comparing the two is that my struggles as a commuter far outweigh anything I went through while living on campus. Commuters have to deal with the problems school brings along with a slew of other issues; I've filled up my gas tank in the worst kind of weather conditions and napped in random places in public more times than I'm proud to say of. This is a list of some of the most challenging aspects of being a commuter.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

15 Times Michael Scott's Life Was Worse Than Your Life

Because have you ever had to endure grilling your foot on a George Foreman?

3307
Michael Scott
NBC

Most of the time, the world's (self-proclaimed) greatest boss is just that, the greatest. I mean, come on, he's Michael Freakin' Scott after all! But every once in a while, his life hits a bit of a speed bump. (or he actually hits Meredith...) So if you personally are struggling through a hard time, you know what they say: misery loves company! Here are 15 times Michael Scott's life was worse than your life:

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

17571
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments