Summer is nearing an end and for a lot of you college freshmen out there, it is time to start a new chapter in your academic life. For many, it will be the first time away from home, being away from what's familiar and experiencing another community other then the one your grew up in. Being a college freshmen can be intimidating at first but finding ways to get settled in and involved will help relieve that anxiety and fear.
In reality, starting college can be a bit scary. You are making the transition from your own home to a dorm room and you are starting over in your life. You may not know everyone that is living in your dorm or the people in your freshmen class. It can be intimidating but remember that you are not the only one who is making this transition and there are many others you are going through the same experience.
Below are some tips for getting settled into college and starting off on the right foot:
1) After you move in, take time to walk the halls of your dorm and introduce yourself to others who are living there - on paper, this might seem like an odd idea but you never know who you will come across and it's a great way to meet the people you will be living in the dorms with over the next several months. This will help you meet people you might want to hang out with, may have a class or two with and help relieve some of the anxiety you are feeling of being away from home. Take some time to introduce yourself to others and learn names.
2) Find different activities and clubs to join - being apart of extracurricular activities will help you make new friends, give you something else to look forward to and mix in with other people. Stay true to your hobbies and find different groups you can be apart of on campus. This will help you settle in a bit, get involved and meet other people and provide a diversion for you. Getting involved will enhance your college experience and create some good memories.
3) Say hello to your RAs, Hall Directors, cafeteria staff, book store staff, etc. - saying a hello and asking how someone else's day is going can really mean a lot to someone. Taking the time to do this with your RA, Hall Director, the people who serve the cafeteria food (you will be surprised how just saying thank you means a lot to the people who work to serve you your breakfast lunch and dinner) and the book store staff. This will help these people provide a friendly name with your face and give you an opportunity to know these individuals as people.
4) Don't Get Behind in Your Schoolwork and Set Specific Times to Study or Do Homework- Take the time to work out a study and homework schedule so you are not getting behind. This will help you create a schedule that is a bit more balanced, disciplined and get good grades. Procrastinating and waiting until the last minute to do projects or assignments will cause more stress and you will get more out of your assignments if you take your time and not rushing it.
Good luck!
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