Lessons I Learned During My First Year of College
Timestamp - senior year of high school. As the beginning of college was starting to loom on the horizon, I was anxiously flipping through the pages of a book called “Where You Go is Not Who You’ll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania” by Frank Bruni, a New York Times journalist. It was then when I stumbled upon a phrase that has been stuck in mind ever since: “College is a singular opportunity to rummage through and luxuriate in ideas, to give your brain a vigorous workout and your soul a thorough investigation, to realize how very large the world is and to contemplate your desired place in it.” While I was feeling eager to go off to college, I was also experiencing apprehension and longing for certainty, so Mr. Bruni’s words really resonated with me. College is indeed about finding & creating your true self, exploring your passions and learning how to work through the multitude of emotions that come with leaving familiarity & simplicity behind. Going into my second year of college this fall, I have by no means figured everything out, however, I did learn some lessons that have helped me become a better, more relaxed & calm version of myself and I’m hoping someone out there will find some comfort after reading this.
One of my biggest insecurities before starting college was the fact that I was indecisive. While everyone around me seemed to know exactly what they wanted to major in and the direction in which their lives were headed (which is great!) I was still having a hard time picking ONE of the many things I was interested in. But, no one has it all figured out. It sounds obvious, I know, but the truth is that when you’re in the throes of high school and you’re having a quarter-life crisis at 18, the image becomes distorted. There is so much beauty in uncertainty, it gives you freedom to change and grow and paint the future a hundred different ways. Give yourself time to pave your own path and find your place in the world.
Secondly, if you’re a creature of comfort like me and love being at home, within your happy bubble with family and childhood friends, being away from what you’ve known your whole life seems dreadful and scary. As we’ve talked about before though, college is also about growing and getting out of your comfort zone. It’s okay & normal to be homesick. Being aware of your emotions and allowing yourself to feel them is the first step toward learning how to handle the new and overwhelming feelings flowing in. What also helps is putting yourself out there and trying to make this new place feel more familiar and comfortable so try to meet new people and make friends. Join a club that aligns with your major, you’re likely to meet people you have a lot of things in common with, or make conversation with people you like in your class & dorms. And remember, everyone is in the same boat, looking for new friendships, so you’re definitely not alone.
Hopefully this eased some of your anxiety & worries and you’ll find that college is not as scary as it sounds. Focus on your goals, but remember that it’s okay to explore and change your mind! Have fun, make new friends, and experience as much as you can!
