The transition from high school to college is likely the most significant adjustment many will make in their lifetime. The good news is that the thought of it is more stressful than the actual transition. As a college freshman, I can’t offer a lot of advice, but here’s five things I wish I knew at this time last year.
1. Take a risk.
I’m from Akron, Ohio which is about 30 minutes from Kent State University. I had a hard time picking between Kent and OU simply due to their locations. However, I’m glad I went away. I’m fairly independent and being at OU has allowed me to learn more about myself. Risks are unique for each individual, though. If you are more dependent on your family, going to a nearby school is still a risk. If you just barely got into a prestigious school, going there is probably out of your comfort zone. Even joining a club, trying out for a sport or rushing can be considered risks for some people. My advice is to just make sure you are doing something that you couldn’t imagine yourself doing a couple of years ago.
2. You can do your own thing.
College is about finding yourself. It’s about finding the things that matter to you, things you can do without and everything in between. Before coming to OU, I thought there would be a lot of pressure on me to go out every night. However, literally nobody is worried about what you are doing. On a Sunday morning you could choose to go to church, wake up with a deathly hangover, be on the way back to Athens from your hometown or anything else you could possibly imagine. That’s my favorite part. It isn’t like high school where everyone knows your every move. Do what feels right without fear of judgment.
3. Meet new people.
I will admit this is probably the piece of advice that I’m most likely to give and not take, but meeting new people is so fun and important in college. While they aren’t completely new people, I had never been friends with my roommates even though I went to high school with them. Although I would have loved to know them sooner, it’s refreshing to have a fresh start with a new group of amazing friends. Go out of your way to talk to people whether that’s by joining a club, starting a conversation with a stranger in class, talking to people at bars and parties or saying hi to someone in your residence hall. Everyone is in the same boat and would more than likely be happy to make a new friend, or even just have a conversation.
4. Don’t stress about the small things.
During my senior year of high school, I was so caught up in aspects of college that were so small in hindsight. Don’t spend time worrying about if you’ll get college credit for that AP exam, how you’ll ever be able to know your way around campus, what you want to major in and pretty much anything else on your mind. At every university there are helpful people who are paid to help you figure out such issues.
5. It will all be okay- even if you make the wrong decision.
Of the 4,360 higher education institutions in the United States, I’m not fully convinced that Ohio University is the ideal school for most. However, most of the students here are ideal for Ohio University. It’s mostly about what you make of the school, but the good news is that there is always a way out. Whether it is transferring to somewhere better-suited for you or dropping out to take on other pursuits, there is always another option.
Layne Rey is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Layne know by tweeting her @laynerey12.
