By Soleil Shah and Amelia Rogers-Neubarth
Leaving high school and adjusting to college life can be rather difficult, yet exciting. Prioritizing self-care is crucial to getting used to the new environment of a college campus and living away from home.
Embracing all the new opportunities about going into a new space is important. This will get students used to campus and socialize with new people. Friends are a huge part of adjusting to a new location and they will help provide a sense of comfort and fun. Joining organizations and engaging in activities such as clubs can be an easy interactive way for students to get to know others and find out where they belong. Connecting with others will make adjusting to college life easier and more welcoming. Johnny Inama, freshman at Florida State University, recommends “having roommates that are a good fit.”
Actively initiating conversations with other students and classmates will allow students to build quality relationships with others. Living on campus provides easy access to many resources for success. This can allow for support going through this new chapter of life. Inama also mentions, “being away from home helped me learn how to distance myself from my family while still keeping in touch.” It is important to maintain these core relationships while branching out.
“Being away from home helped me learn how to distance myself from my family while still keeping in touch.”
Johnny Inama (Freshman at FSU)
It is important to keep an open mind and understand that things might not run smoothly at first. Moving out and living away from home is a huge lifestyle change. Prioritize maintaining a steady routine or schedule. Even if this routine changes during the first months, staying organized can help students build confidence and get used to the new environment. Students should explore their campus to get familiar with the area. Also, this can lead to meeting new people. Ryan Yang, freshman at Florida State University, said a tip was to “be prepared for experiencing new things on your own.”
Another thing students can consider is bringing some items that remind them of home. These items can help build familiarity in a brand-new place. Calling home and staying connected to family members is important but staying too attached might be a mistake because then students will miss out on events or miss opportunities. College is a time where young people can explore passions, meet new people, and take a big step towards achieving career goals. According to freshman, Peyton Wright at the University of Florida “adjusting to college wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. Getting through the first week is tough but then it gets worlds easier.” Tips Wright would give to upcoming college freshman would be to call your parents everyday if you feel homesick, join clubs, and don’t sign up for 8AM classes.
Although the change can seem daunting, there are ways to maintain stress levels and learn to adjust. It is important to realize that many incoming college freshmen feel anxious and overwhelmed. The college journey is never taken alone because many other students feel the same way. Students must focus on the positive and give themselves time, and eventually, adjusting to college will not seem so bad.
Graphic by Philip Berkwit
