<p>I just finished my freshman year of college and I remember feeling the EXACT same way you did! The first thing to remember is that nearly everyone else will be in your shoes. The stereotypical “I hated high school and can’t wait to leave” kind of person isn’t as common as you think. Most people had good, sometimes amazing, high school experiences and it’s always difficult to leave something like that behind.</p>
<p>On that note, though, everyone is just as desperate as you are to make friends and feel connected! People will be very open the first few weeks/months. Also, it’s not like high school…you can have a bunch of different friends from various aspects of your college life (classes, sports, etc.) and they don’t all have to be friends with each other, so don’t worry about finding a “clique” right away.</p>
<p>You should actually view your nerves as a blessing. Having such a great high school experience means you know what being truly happy feel like, and you will definitely be able to recreate that in college. It does take a few months (shorter or longer, depending on the person) to feel “at home” but trust me. It will happen. Something that really scared me when I was getting ready to leave was that I felt really out of control…as in, I wouldn’t have control over who my friends were, or what would happen to me over the next year. Something to remember is that just like you worked hard to make friends/have good relationships with family in high school, you can totally do that again in college, with maybe even better results! It is TOTALLY within your power to create a good life for yourself at college. </p>
<p>Getting involved in clubs and organizations is something you’ll often hear, and to some extent, it’s true. For the first few weeks, never EVER pass up an opportunity to be social. Sitting in your room alone just makes you feel worse about everything. That said, though, don’t join clubs just to build a resume. You can wind up overcommitted and even more stressed out. Whatever you had a passion for in high school–running, writing, singing, whatever–try and pursue that for the first few weeks so it’s not like you’re completely reinventing yourself. If you find you still like the activity, then go for it! If not, you’ll at least have given it a chance.</p>
<p>One final thing: your first few months won’t be a breeze, and that’s okay! It’s okay to feel sad or homesick sometimes. It’s totally normal and doesn’t mean you are having trouble adjusting. I am happier than I’ve ever been, with a good GPA and friends who I know will be in my wedding someday. Not every day of my first semester was awesome. Your entire first year will be a transition period, so if you’re still feeling little pangs of homesickness every few weeks even through your second semester, it’s okay. I promise. As long as you’re able to just throw yourself into your new college life you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>The transition can definitely be scary so right when you get to college start building a support system. This can come from your friends but recognize that all freshmen are similarly freaked out so be wary of stressing each other out. Your RAs, upperclassmen in your dorm/classes/sorority/fraternity, etc. are all great resources and you should definitely try to get to know upperclassmen. They’ve been there before and will be more than happy to help you with whatever may come up.</p>
<p>Good luck, and above all, just relax and enjoy the moment. These four years have the potential to be among the best of your life, so treasure every minute!</p>