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            College is a very big transitional time for everyone in their lives. A lot of things change with being away from home, going out into the “real world”, living with a roommate. There is so much change and it is sometimes hard to be proud of yourself for handling college. Looking at how I initially handled leaving my
family for college, I am very proud of myself for how far I’ve come. I have been able to go home for at least one day each weekend since classes have started, so I feel like that is easing the leaving home aspect. My roommate and I don’t really talk either, we just kind of live with each other. I don’t really mind as she has her friends and hobbies, and I have my friends and hobbies. I have been good with making friends right away too. My freshman year of high school I only talked to two people I went to grade school with because I was nervous. I got more outgoing throughout high school but was expecting the same freshman year scenario to happen where I don’t talk to anyone. Luckily, that is not the case.

            The biggest thing I would say that is helping me feel more at-home is how involved I am getting on campus. I was very involved for my junior and senior years of high school, so I knew I wanted to get involved right away in college. During OrgSmorg, I signed up for DECA, Zeta Omega Tau sorority, the hip hop team, and to be a student ambassador later this year or next. While I am involved with a lot of extracurricular commitments, I am doing quite well handling the academics. In my opinion, the workload hasn’t been much different compared to how it was at my high school. I am using a color code system that I have been using sine fourth grade for the different days an assignment is due, and with how well it has worked in the past, why would I stop when I got to college? While it has been hard lately to find motivation to get my work done during free time, I tend to remind myself, it will be worth it.

my sorority on bid day

My expectations were low and negative coming into college. I do not think there were any good things coming from anyone accept my mom and dad. I am going to be in so much debt, it is a waste of time, you can make more by not going, you will not have any time to work, the homework load is horrible. Hearing those things had me feeling like I was making a mistake by choosing to go away to college. Although I heard nothing but negative things from others, my parents said the opposite. They said to not let others discourage me and that I can be on my own and handle whatever is thrown at me. I truly felt like I had to see for myself because what if I hate myself for not seeing what it was like.

I moved in on September 3rd I was told where I would be staying, and my parents moved my stuff in and left right after. I did not know how to feel as I set things up in the dorm. Was I even going to like my roommate? The first week goes by and I have a friend group I have spent time together with every day and I feel good. The second and third week go by, and the workload is not horrible so far and I have a great amount of free time to do whatever I choose. I also was able to get a job at the mall where I work about 3 to 4 days a week. For the experiences that are coming my way with internships my junior and senior year and the volleyball intramural I joined I am confident it will go well. I cannot say It will always feel this easy managing it all, but I am confident enough. I do not even care if I owe some money after its all over because I am going to be well off, and I am going to look back and these four years would have passed me by, and I will not have to say I wish I would have gone.