Note to Freshmen - An Ode to Change

I was always afraid of change, whether I wanted to admit it or not. I would cry during my birthday parties as a kid, I never celebrated New Years, and I would dread every first day of school because I didn’t want to have a new class.

Change is an overwhelming thing for a lot of people, and a big reason why people are so afraid to move on from something that may not be the best for them.

Leaving for college is one of the biggest changes I’ve experienced to date, which I think is the same for a lot of young adults. It’s the first time you have to actually rely on yourself and not on adults and it’s tough. The first two weeks of being at college I called my mom every day and cried. I’m not sure if I was homesick or scared of the new environment I just put myself into, but it was a bump in the road that I needed to experience.

If you’re entering your first semester of college, whether you plan on going this fall or in the spring, be prepared to feel uncomfortable for the first few weeks. It’s natural; you’re away from everything you know, and you most likely don’t know anyone. This discomfort won’t go away on its own. You have to be willing to put yourself out there to talk to people and do things that maybe you would not have done before you got to school.

You’ll meet your people in strange ways. The best people can often be found during the most unexpected moments.

College is a time to figure out who you are and who you want to be. In order to reach your fullest potential, you have to expect change.

Don’t be afraid of it, even though it can be scary.