My first week consisted of getting food poisoning, hitting my knee against a workout machine (swelling is slowly going down), curling my hair just for it to fall out, decorating my room only for it to still feel foreign and my coffee maker not wanting to work. In the first weeks, you really don’t have a lot of control over how things will go. Everything is still fresh, and even though I am a sophomore this year I still feel new at things. I have to adjust to a new schedule, make myself feel at home, get an understanding of how the teachers will be for the remaining semester, and be open to changes. So for today’s tea or coffee, as I now prefer, is all about what my journey was like in the first week coming back to college.
I don’t know what this semester will bring me because it has just started. Just as some of those who are reading this, you also have no idea. For me the unexpected brings me anxiety and based on the poll from Instagram a lot of you were also feeling overwhelmed. When I wake up I feel anxious, not entirely sure what I am anxious about. I try breathing exercises- deep breath in while holding your stomach, slowly let the air out. But sometimes that doesn’t work. There are so many unaccomplished things to do whether it be finishing your homework due next week or trying to make friends with the nice person from class. Once I can check it off the list, accomplish it I become less anxious.
As I want to remind you and lets be honest remind myself as well. You have walked into a new environment. There are people you have never seen before, places you have never been, and things you have probably never done before. This year I have a credit card but honestly I’m not entirely sure how to use it. Some of us are used to someone else taking care of the groceries, cleaning, bills and cooking. So now you are responsible to do those things that others may have done for you. And it’s like:
Where do you begin?
How do I keep track of everything?
Well I don’t have all of your answers as I am still learning how to be an adult too. But I do know that you are not expected to know everything straight away. Our parental figures, those who took care of us, didn’t have it figured out and most still make mistakes. If you walk into the wrong classroom, just say I’m sorry and ask someone to point you in the right direction. I had to look at the map on the first day because I forgot where one of my classes were. Immersing yourself into this transition means you have to be open to making mistakes, doing uncomfortable and unfamiliar things.
Before entering college, I was worried about making mistakes or possibly looking stupid. I didn’t want to try lifting weights because I didn’t want to be judged by those seemingly knowing what they are doing. The truth is nobody cares. I certainly don’t. If you want to eat alone go for it. If you walk into the wrong class, I will just be like oh I’ve done that. I had to teach myself that no one is really paying attention and if they are, they are probably not judging you like you judge yourself. I had to tell myself it’s not silly asking for help. I noticed a girl working out the way I was trying too and I asked her if my form was correct. Believe it or not she helped me and told me how to correct it without any judgement. I think we get so scared to look dumb, that we miss out on getting the help we need and/or something we want to do. I’ve had numerous of what I’m assuming to be freshman ask me if their class was down the hall or if that building was where the bagels were. I know we want to know everything, or make everyone else assume we do. But lets be real we don’t so it is okay to ask for guidance. I certainly didn’t know the answers to those questions last year.
You may have noticed that you’re getting the hang of it. You know more of what to expect. You know more about what places you like and what places you don’t. You know where you classes are.You may even have made new potential friends. This transition gets easier with time. And along the whole way you are learning and adjusting to new changes. Just keep pursuing each day, get through it and try to make the most out of it. And before you know it, it will be the end of the semester with you having better understandings about yourself and the world around you.
