So I’m just going to come right out and say it: The first year is hard. Very hard.
I had days where I just wanted my mom’s hugs or to be alone with my own thoughts. But I also had those days where I was just baffled by all the amazing people around me and found myself asking how there could be so many cool people in the world. There just are!
The best part? We have only just begun to meet them. I’m sure you’ve heard a million times that life is like a roller coaster- that’s particularly true for the first year of college when everything you’ve ever known begins to change. You could look at the experience in a million different ways: as a challenge, an obstacle, a learning opportunity, and even a beautiful coming of age. Everyday could challenge you (it probably will!!), even if it’s getting out of bed after a night of VERY little sleep. But the important thing is to just hold on and know when to ask for help.
ASK FOR HELP. It’s difficult for everyone, and there’s an enormous amount of courage in being able to understand yourself and reaching out to others for help. Teachers, professors, mentors will all appreciate it and are incredibly willing to help!
In fact, I am going to be a mentor this year. The sheer amount of training that goes into preparation for being one is just incredible… but I am loving every minute of it. From a mentor’s point of view, we love it when first years come to us and trust us to help them! If I were going to give the most important advice for your freshman year it would be don’t be afraid to ask for help. Reach out, embrace challenges, and learn from “failures.” That’s how we learn! Trust me, you’ll learn so much about yourself, your college, and your friends that you’ll be grateful you put yourself out there. So go start asking questions!