“The days are long, but the weeks are short,” an older friend once told me upon reflecting on her first year of college. As I have begun to settle into my routine, I can’t think of a more accurate sentiment. Our busy days feel strenuous in the moment, but constant activities keep our minds flying so fast that we have little time to process them.
So here we are, one month into our college experience. Each of us holding onto our own overwhelming amount of moments and lessons to reflect on, but here are some of mine:
We all had preconceived ideas of how college would play out, and whether you were fearful or unbearably excited, I am sure there have been moments that surprised you or played out differently than you would have imagined. What I have learned is that things won’t fall into place as quickly as predicted. Maybe this was a product of my high expectations and overexcitement, but everything good takes time, whether that be friendships, finding impactful study methods, or getting involved with clubs.
Speaking of getting involved with clubs or organizations, that is another challenge in itself. I would have never expected how hard it would be to get involved. After endless rounds of applications, resume edits, and information sessions, I find myself itching to just be a part of something. Patience is certainly a virtue we are exercising during this time period, and it is quite challenging to be a freshman trying to expand your circle when you have to go through such extensive processes to do so. On the topic of building a social network and making friends, it’s easy to feel removed from the rest of campus as a freshman living on the Commons. This environment can feel like an echo chamber with only freshmen who are equally as new and inexperienced with college life as you are. Talking with upperclassmen is like a breath of fresh air, and we truly have so much to learn from their experiences, so I would recommend chatting with older students as much as possible.
On Mondays and Wednesdays, I have a fifteen-minute window to get from Commons to Buttrick Hall. Everyone made it very clear to me that I would be booking it to that class and that, in general, the walk back to Commons from Main Campus was god awful. In this first month of classes, I have been pleasantly surprised with the fact that the walks do not take as long as everyone had warned me. Even on the hottest days, I enjoy those solitary moments on the way to and from class.
Before the school year started, I was nervous for lecture classes and worried about feeling like such a small fish in a large pond. However, I have encountered professors who genuinely strive to offer support in any way possible. They may express their helpfulness in intimidating or stern ways, but they are here to assist you, and they want you to approach them for that assistance.
Whether it’s a challenging class or spending time with groups of people that you don’t know, there are going to be situations that make you uncomfortable. It’s way easier to hide from that discomfort, but I’ve grown to realize that those moments are crucial for progression. We all grow in various ways and navigate this new experience at different rates. Some people take the time to quietly process how they are feeling, while others stay crazy busy and keep pushing forward to avoid those slow and quiet moments. All of us need to keep in mind that this is everyone else’s first month in college as well and that each freshman is trying just as hard as you are to find their place.
