By: Sarah Winters | Staff Writer
The Freshman Myth. It’s a touchy topic, and most adults who have been through college like to avoid the topic. However, it is a big issue most college freshmen have to face, and get hit with during their first few months of college.
You might be thinking: what is the freshman myth?
It is the idea that college freshmen go into their first year of higher education overly optimistic and confident and unprepared for how hard the transition really is. Dr. Brian Harke, Dean of Students at USC, wrote in a Huffpost article that most college freshmen do not look into the reality of college before they arrive on campus and really struggle with the adjustment to their new environment.
As a freshman myself, I know first-hand how hard this transition is. So far, the transition into my freshman year at Salve has been full of really high highs, but also some really low lows. I truly was not prepared for how difficult it was going to be leaving home and entering the world of living on your own. I know I’m not the only one, and hearing from other students at Salve, as well as friends at other institutions, helped me feel a little less alone.
“It’s just a weird time you know,” says Grace Magno, ’25. “It’s hard to juggle making friends, starting college classes, and learning to live more independently.”
Though it is definitely tough to find ways to stay calm and keep yourself together during this time, I have found a few things that have helped me and that I think would benefit others. The first thing I would say to any fellow freshman is reach out for help. Coming from someone who was way too stubborn to do that in high school, it does really make a difference. Finding a support system, whoever that is for you, is a really good way to start feeling comfortable in your new environment.
If you’re having a tough time balancing school work, try to get things done before they are due. I know that can be hard sometimes, but one of the best things about college is how transparent all of the assignments are. Students have access to basically everything that they will need to do throughout the semester, and it helps to just get them done. I am a chronic procrastinator, so I know that sounds like a really difficult thing to do. However, if you just find time to sit down and do the work, you have way more time to focus on studying for upcoming exams and your social life.
My next piece of advice is to try taking time for yourself. College freshmen are under so much pressure from everyone around them, and sometimes it feels like we have to say yes to everything. Yes, it is important to put yourself out there, and do things out of your comfort zone. But, if you do that 6 out of 7 days of the week, you are allowed to take one day and just relax. It truly helps you stay sane in a very chaotic environment. Just take a day to do things you love. Whether that is spending time with friends or having a self care night, it will help you feel like you have more control and it is a nice way to relax after a hard week of classes.
My last piece of advice is to lean on those who love you. Call your parents, your siblings, people who took care of you growing up, FaceTime your friends from home. Reaching out to people who will comfort you and remind you of home will give you the boost you need to get through the day.
College is hard, and everyone knows that. So, just keep doing your best, because that will always be enough. These past few months have taught me that things can be really hard, but if you choose to change with the times you will get through it.
