Dixon Patch Reader Looks Back on Her Move To College

Although it was over a decade ago, I still remember driving onto campus to a place I would call home for the next year. I was 20 years old, a transfer student and although it wasn’t my first time leaving home, I was 400 miles away from my family and friends. 

I was nervous, excited and overwhelmed at the experience. The year I spent living on campus was something I will never forget. I have fond memories of that time in my life and remain friends with my roommate and dorm neighbors to this day. From frat parties, to dorm fire drills to getting lost in Inglewood at night, these are moments that I can still think back on and smile.

There is a learning curve to living on campus and/or moving away from home for the first time. I thought I would share advice to help you not only get through the home sickness you might feel but thrive and make the most out of this incredible experience called college.

1. Get out of your room! Even for a social person, leaving your room, putting yourself out there to meet new people can be scary but it is so worth it. Go sit in the common area, wander around outside, say hello. Everyone is in the same situation of not knowing a soul. Everyone wants to make friends.
2. Don’t go home every weekend. The real bonding of living on campus happens on weekends. A lot of people leave but the people who stay have no choice but to spend time together. This is a great time to get to know the campus, the community and the people in it. From big city to college town, weekends are a great time to make new memories in your new home. I lived just a few miles from the beach for 2.5 years and only went a handful of times. Experience your surroundings!
3. Get involved on campus. Join a club, organization or an intermural sport. Go to sporting events. Get a part time job in the bookstore if you can manage it. Make college more than just going to classes and studying. You might be surprised at how much down time you have. Use it wisely!
4. Don’t compromise who you are. Peer pressure doesn’t end in high school. With so many people from so many walks of life, you are going to be offered up the opportunity to do a myriad of different things over your time in college. Have fun but don’t compromise your values and goals. My parents gave me a short list of serious expectations they had for me and because I loved and respected them, those were always in the back of my mind with every decision I made. You may feel untouchable but every choice has a consequence.
5. Enjoy it. Once college is over, you will be an adult. You will have a 40 hour a week job. You will have bills to pay. College is the time to explore, experience and soak up life. It won’t always be easy. There are challenges in every stage of life. But right now is the time to put yourself out there into the world and create footprints that will become memories for many, many years.
6. Go to class!!! Most professors won't take attendance and sometimes, that anonymity can make skipping class tempting. Resist that temptation. Go to class. Make friends with your professors and classmates. Utilize their office hours and ask questions.

Good luck to all students who are entering a college near or far from home. I hope the experience is everything you want it to be.