Being a first-year student in the college world is a very daunting role to take. You’re surrounded by new people who are trying to figure out the same thing that you are: how am I going to survive?
You have to balance new people, new friendships, new freedom and new professors with their differing expectations. Everything is uncomfortably new, which leads to being overwhelmed. As a first-year student in the spring semester, I am here to tell you that everything will be okay! Everyone is in the same boat that you are; you are not alone.
I remember being so excited to go to college over the summer, and the closer it got to my move-in date, I was beyond scared. As a first-generation student, I did not know what I was getting myself into. Was I going to be able to handle the pressure? What if I did not make any new friends? What if I was not made for college?
These thoughts lingered in my head for the first couple of weeks that I was on campus. However, I have learned many valuable lessons from my fall semester. The ones that have stuck with me the most were to make sure you call your mom, create a healthy sleep schedule, reach out for help, join clubs and organizations and make sure you stay organized.
When I first left for college, I expected to call home at least once a week, just to check in with my parents at home, since they had been left with an empty nest. Truth was, I was calling them two to three times a week. Whenever I felt stressed out, overwhelmed or even bored, I found myself picking up the phone to call my mom. We typically stay on the phone anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour. They look forward to your calls as much as you do.
Sleep is a crucial part of being in college. You should be making sure you get at least eight hours of sleep each night. You do not want to wake up rushing to class. Nothing is more embarrassing than having to wake up in panic, quickly get changed and brush your teeth and sprint across campus, just to show up to class out of breath. Enough sleep will also help you maintain your focus during your classes and will benefit you in the long run.
Elizabethtown College offers so many different resources for students, for free. If you are struggling with your mental health, you can schedule an appointment with Counseling Services and meet with one of the five different counselors.
If you feel as if you’re struggling academically and do not know any proper study techniques, you can make an appointment with Gene Thomas. Free tutoring is also available for those who need extra help outside of the classroom. For any fellow first-generation students, you can choose to be in the Momentum program for your first year. You will have a kinesis mentor who can help you navigate through anything related to college. Your peer mentors will also be of great help. You do not have to pay anything to get help and guidance, and it is a very helpful thing to take advantage of.
Joining clubs and organizations on campus is a great way to meet new people and make very good connections. Etown offers over 60 clubs and organizations. From the Anime club to Best Buddies, there is something for everyone. As of right now, I am involved in The Etownian, WWEC, Dogs in the Dell, the Momentum Program, and two academic clubs. I have met some amazing people through these programs.
Organization is the key to everything. If you do not keep yourself organized, you will find yourself more stressed than you already were. You do not want to have that moment of impending doom that you have something to do but do not know what it is, and then figure out that you have a three page paper due at midnight the following day. Chances are, you will not get it done in time.
Although these are not the only lessons I have learned from my first semester of college, these are the main ones to highlight. I strongly believed that I was not going to be successful, and I proved myself wrong. I made the fall semester Dean’s List, got accepted into two on-campus honor societies and have taken so many credits that the school considers me a sophomore. So yes, college can be scary, but if you do it right and stay focused, you will be surprised at what you can learn and accomplish.
