Congratulations, collegiettes™! Most of us are halfway through the semester at this point. For many of us, myself included, we are through the very first college semester of our lives. I can speak for all of us when I say: where has the time gone?! It was but barely two months ago that classes started here at the U of A, yet it feels like I’ve been here for years. College, thus far, is awesome. No parents, no curfew, no rules. In sum: freedom. While I think we can all agree that college rules, we can also agree that the transition can be rough at times. This can especially become apparent when we finally start getting a tad bit homesick mid-semester. Fret not, new collegiettes, you are not alone! We’ve got some ways to ease your transition into the college life.
You’ve heard these two words at least 600 times since you got to college: Get Involved! This is no joke. If your school has 40,000 people or 400, there’s a club for you. And if there isn’t, make one! Many collegietteschoose Greek life as their main choice of involvement, which is a fantastic option all-around. Don’t feel like a sorority is for you? No problem! Join at least one club that interests you. This could be a religious group, a politically affiliated group, a club specific to your major, intramural sports, or something awesome like the Harry Potter Alliance. The options are seriously endless. Getting involved is an automatic guarantee that you’ll make friends, have fun, and be a part of something you enjoy!
Do something familiar once a week.Take something that was regular for you back home, and do it in college. If you went to a religious service once a week, find a place in your college town and make it happen. The same goes for scheduled activities like laundry, cleaning, etc. Even if you simply ate ice cream every Tuesday night with your best friend, go grab some fro-yo from Cactus Grill and Skype your BFF. Doing this will help make the scary brand-new experience of college somewhat less daunting since you’re participating in something you’re used to.
Get to know your school. The more you know the place, the more you’ll feel at home. You don’t need to become an expert in the history of your college, or know the ins and outs of every building, but familiarizing yourself with where you live can help you get used to where you’re living. If you have some free time, take a bike ride around different parts of campus. Get to know the different areas and where different dorms and classroom buildings are. If you feel so inclined, you can even go on a tour of your own school! Look up a brief history of your school, learn the fight songs (if you haven’t already), and gain some general knowledge about the place where you’ll be spending the next four years of your life. Getting to know and love your college campus will make you feel more comfortable there.
Don’t lose sight of your schoolwork.While college is definitely about fun and freedom, you have to remember the most important reason you came here: academics. If you didn’t perform as well as you did in high school, you wouldn’t be where you are now, so don’t let that go to waste! This isn’t to say that you need to get a 4.0 your first semester; that’s too much unneeded stress. However, getting the best grades that you can during your first semester will only set you up for success for the next 7 semesters of your life. It’s all about priorities. If your grades start to slip, that will just make your homesickness that much worse. It’s a slippery slope. Being successful in school means you’ll feel happier and will be more inclined to continue on that path.
Don’t forget where you came from.Most of us are pretty excited about being away from our parents for the first time, but most of them are scared and worried to death. It never hurts to stay in touch with your family at least a couple of times a week. Many of us (myself included) are coming to huge universities from tiny high schools. Others are coming from high schools with 8,000 people to colleges that are half of that size. It doesn’t matter where you came from or where you are now, just don’t forget about it! High school was the most shaping years of our lives, and whether or not you loved or hated your high school, your experiences there had an impact on you today, so always keep that in mind. If you’re being separated from your best friends for the first time (again, myself included), it’s important to get involved and make new friends, but make time for your friends from home too. Even if it’s a bi-weekly Skype date, it’ll make your week (and theirs!) a lot brighter. No matter if your friends are in the same state, 827 miles away, or even 1,344 or more miles away, they’re missing you as much as you’re missing them. In sum, three simple words: keep in touch!
Remember that even when the transition gets rough, you’re not alone! Even if everyone else seems like they’re dealing just fine, we all have our moments. Keep our tips in mind for when you hit a tough spot, and you’ll be good to go. It only gets easier from here. Good luck, collegiettes!
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Arizona chapter.