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- I'm entering my senior year of college, and I wish I knew some things as a freshman.
- It's difficult to make friends, and sometimes you have to take classes that don't matter.
- I've also learned to not be afraid to change course when college isn't working for you.
I'm entering my final year of college at The New School, and in May, I'll be a college graduate.
After transferring to The New School in my sophomore year, all I have left are eight classes and 12 credits to graduate in less than a year. I'm exhausted and excited.
I now think back to the version of me three years ago entering college as a freshman at a different school — confused about what this new life would be like. I expected it to be something like the "Animal House" frat parties mixed with "Mona Lisa Smile"-style lectures. But it has been nothing like that.
As I enter my senior year, here's what I wish I knew as an incoming freshman.
I quickly realized college was more about harnessing your craft and less about learning
After three years of college, I feel like I haven't learned much academically.
Because of the nature of the college-credit system, I've been forced to take a lot of classes that don't matter to me. I'm a journalism major, but I was forced to take an intro-to-fiction class. I thought it might be fun, but I struggled to stay awake in the lecture because it was meaningless to me. I learned that a lot of college was having to take classes just to fulfill requirements.
When I could take classes in my major, I realized it was less about learning journalism and more about harnessing my craft. Still, many professors I worked with became mentors, and they've given me resources and connections to get ahead.
I wish I knew just how much growth I was going to experience in such a short time
I knew the physical distance from my high-school friends was inevitable, but no one informed me about the amount of growth that I'd endure over the next three years.
I found my first year, especially, to be a second puberty. I felt lost countless times trying to connect with others, myself, and even my schoolwork.
For me, the hardest growing pain was realizing I'd become an adult. I went from living with my family to being completely on my own in the blink of an eye. At 18, this felt freeing, but it quickly felt daunting and then isolating. It felt like the weight of the world was suddenly on my shoulders.
Once the dust started to settle in my freshman year, I was finally able to feel a bit more grounded.
I thought making friends in college would be easy, but I struggled to find my people
As a freshman, I was surprised to learn that cliques were still a thing in college; I wish I were warned about that. Whether it's based on outfits, personality, or drug of choice, people usually pick a group and stick with that group for most of their college years.
Picking the right group for me was hard. I struggled to find the people I connected with, but I eventually found them while living in the dorms.
Like a lot in life, making friends in college is hard but not impossible. Everything is trial and error.
I would tell my freshman self not to be afraid of changing course
After my first year, I learned that your environment was everything. I also learned just how important it was to be comfortable in your major and in your college. I did not feel challenged enough after completing my first year. I also felt like I couldn't fit in and that my personality couldn't thrive on campus.
I took a big risk and decided to transfer schools. I worried that the problem was me. I thought maybe I just wasn't suited for college, and maybe I was just wasting money. I worried the school I would transfer to would be worse. But luckily, it all worked out because I took the leap and changed course.
I don't claim that my current college is all sunshine and roses. I've seen many faults in the curriculum, administration, distribution of funds, and treatment of students. All that aside, I have found my people — people that are friends, future coworkers, and acquaintances I love to drunkenly talk to at parties.
At the end of the day, I wish I could tell my freshman self that there would be a lot of bumps in the road but that it would all be worth it.