For some, transferring to a new institution is a breeze and they find their place almost instantly, but for many, transferring to a new institution is not always the easiest transition. You leave behind friends, favorite professors, clubs you joined, jobs you may have gotten, but most importantly, you leave a piece of yourself behind that you can’t get back. A part of you will always miss that piece that you left behind, and that’s what makes you want to go back and visit. When you do visit, you miss that part of yourself even more because you realize that life at your old institution is still just as good as before you had to leave it behind. You begin to question if transferring was a good choice or if you made the wrong decision.
Well, question no more! Of course it was a good decision, if it wasn’t, you wouldn’t have even considered it in the first place. It may not feel like it right now, but some things take time, and this for you is one of those things. So hold your head high because it’s time to move forward, but don’t feel bad if your crown starts to slip from time to time, just remember to always push it back up and continue on your way. Here are 3 things you shouldn’t feel bad about when trying to adjust to your new institution.
1. Don’t feel bad about missing your old institution.
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At times it will hit you harder than others, but don’t feel bad about missing your old institution. It’s all a part of the adjustment. At this point, it’s still really early in the semester and you haven’t really had the opportunity to create new memories so you’re still holding on to the old ones. In time, new ones will form and the old ones will be stored for keepsake.
2. Don’t feel bad if you feel out of place on your new campus.
Transferring always means having to get use to a new place all over again. You may feel out of place because you aren’t sure where everything is, but that’s normal. Even people who have been around for a while don’t always know every building on campus, especially if it is a huge institution. You’ll soon know major streets and shortcuts to class, it just takes getting lost a few times and connecting the puzzle pieces one by one to understand the layout of your campus.
3. Don’t feel bad if you feel if you don’t know as many people as you’d please.
If you’re a social butterfly, but feel like you’ve been forced to hang out in your cocoon, don’t worry! Every butterfly has to find the perfect garden to flourish in. For now, just enjoy the journey and you’ll soon find others around you.
Don’t feel bad, period. So much is going to change, but don’t make that an issue. It might get bumpy along the way, but if you keep pushing through, the road will smooth out on its own. Keep smiling and be yourself because soon you’ll realize why transferring was best for you.