Moving away from home for the first time can be scary for a college freshman. Packing and moving away from friends, family and familiarity can be intimidating and nerve racking. Having to start over isn't always easy but isn't impossible. Taking the time to meet others and getting involved early on can make a huge difference to the beginning of your college career.
When I moved away for college at Otterbein, I'll admit I was a nervous and a little scared. I had lived in Solon, Ohio for a good majority of my life and was going to be moving away from that for the first time ever. I only knew two people on campus (two of my neighbors who grew up by me went to Otterbein) and was going to have to start all over. I was going to be two hours away from a place I had called home for so long and had a lot on my mind.
"Will I fit in at Otterbein?"
"What will it be like living away from home?"
"How am I going to meet new people?"
These were questions that ran threw my head the week before I moved down and on the actual drive down there to move me in. I knew I would be going to school but wasn't sure what I was getting myself into.
Rather then sit around in the dorm room after I moved in, I decided to wander the halls and managed to find open doors for other rooms. Being able to talk with other people who had just moved in calmed my nerves a bit and helped me get over some of the anxiety I was feeling. I knew I wasn't going to meet anyone by sitting in my dorm room so getting out and taking the time to meet others really helped.
As that first weekend rolled around, I managed to volunteer and take part in some of the other new student activities going on and as a result, I made some really great friends and met people I would hang out with for the next four years. As the school year got into full swing, I took the time to become involved in other groups on campus and it became a great way to meet people and make some new friends.
For those of you starting college within the next few weeks, take the time to get out of your dorm room and meet new people. Remember you are not the only one who had to move away and start over and many others will be looking for people to hang out with and make new friends. Starting over can be tough but sitting inside the dorm room all day won't help you meet new people. Take the time to participate with activities on campus, join some of the special interest groups many college campuses have to offer and meet new people. That will calm the nerves, provide some of the answers to the questions you may have about starting over and get your college experience off to a great start.
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