Since I have been in college for about two and a half months, I have been through lots of changes in my life. It has been quite an adjustment moving here from home. I have felt very homesick. I walked into this college experience with a big ego, thinking “Oh, I can do this on my own. I don’t need my parents or anything or anyone.” In contrast, now I go home almost every single weekend. I learned
(Brunel University, London) quickly that independence won’t come within days of being away from home. You will always have a place at home, even when you feel out of place at your campus. Home seemed so stressful a year ago, but it is now a breath of fresh air in my hectic life. I used to hate the rules and authority my parents forced upon me, but now I have honestly grown closer to my family because it is a treat to see them. Their rules I can now push aside for a weekend and relax without the cloud of college stress looming over me.
Another thing incoming freshmen should be aware of is to be careful with everything. Everyone here isn’t your friend. You’ve only been here for a short amount of time. If you think someone is your friend, they might not be. Trusting people can be a difficult thing to do, and giving trust to someone so quickly can be shattering when it all goes down negatively. Your studies should come on top of everything else, even if it doesn’t feel like it. It isn’t successful to finish homework for another class in the class you have before it. Managing your time and watching who you trust are another important hindsight I wish I had known before I started college. Picture