As most of us already know, college is a pretty daunting and weird environment to be in for at least the first month or so. You are no longer seeing the familiar faces that you have been with for the last four-plus years on a daily basis, no longer able to go back to your favorite English teachers class to just drop by and say hi, and no longer in the same city or even state.

For those who have found their college and a place that they are happy in, you have found all that is right in the world. Now, for those who decided to stay close to home, save money at community college, completely changed majors and went to a different program, or made your way to where you wanted to finally be: you are not alone. Your first semester or even year is going to be much different. You are going into a place where the people there have already had a whole semester to make friends, join clubs, and find their niche. Most everyone there already has experienced dorm living, knows how to get around campus the quickest way and when to go to Chick-Fil-A when it’s the least busy during the day.

Regardless of the last university you went to, your new school is completely different in every way, shape and form. There is a new routine that you have to work out. Wake up at a different time, map out your classes so you don’t get lost on the first day of school (but still do) and learn how to cope with the meal plan.

You are constantly getting asked a number of different questions, like why did you transfer here? Why did you choose that as your major? Why are you taking that class? You chose that professor? So you basically have to explain your whole life story to every new person you meet on a daily basis.

Finding a place to fit in can be hard. There are so many different organizations, clubs to look into, and intramurals to sign up for, but which one is the right one? Finding someone to talk to in class is really hard. Believe it or not, you have to find the courage to walk up to a random person who might look the slightest bit friendly and basically say be my friend without looking like a psychopath.

You start to get a little bit overwhelmed and maybe second-guess yourself. Should I have stayed at my old school for another semester? Why did I go somewhere four hours away from where I live? And then you start to get homesick and miss your parents, family, friends and, worst of all, your dogs.

But you finally get settled in, start to get to know people, and make friends. It might take a while, but I have found that the more things you try out and the more people you meet, the better chance of finding a place where you really fit in. It might seem like a terrible thing to be in a new place at first, but the way I look at it, it's a brand-new place to make your mark and make new memories.