School starts in a week but I can’t believe that I’m actually a college student now. I still look and act like a kid and it’s not like I can change that in just a week. I remember at the orientation everyone else looked older than me and more mature. I’m worried that I won’t fit in or make many friends. It’s a commuter school so it definitely won’t be easy. How do I stop worrying?
Fake it 'til you make it!
You are ready - have faith in yourself.
Just the fact that you are asking these questions indicates a significant degree of self-awareness. I suspect you’ll do fine.
Thanks
You are at the end of the transition and it is normal for doubts to emerge, but it is important to continue forward. Don’t look back and do your best. It will be okay.
It can be really hard to stop worrying about anything, not just college. The best way I’ve found to stop worrying is to keep busy. Keep busy with school, work, friends, etc, and you’ll find that you have less time to sit around and worry.
If you’re worries are specifically about friends, make sure you join clubs (and become actively involved in them!), go to events/activities, get a job where lots of other students work, and talk to people. Invite them places, grab something to eat together, be friendly and chat with them.
Your concerns are perfectly normal. Take solace in the fact that many, many young adults had the same worries and made it through everything just fine. Life isn’t a series of landmark changes that happen in a day or a week or even a month. It’s a long gradual process. You’ll grow more comfortable with it as time goes on. Just keep your head up, work hard, take advantage of as many opportunities as you can, and it’ll be fine.
If the main thing worrying you is that you look young, that won’t make a difference. Especially at a commuter schooler which likely has a slightly wider range of ages. Plenty of the people there are your age, and you’ll do just fine.
Have other people told you that you’re not ready for college?