Adjusting to College
Posted October 9th, 2012 by floresm
It is a common cliché that “the college years are <supposed to be> the best years of your life.” If you are a new student who is feeling upset and miserable, this can be a very confusing and scary expectation. It is important to remember that it is normal to feel sad and scared during the first several weeks of college. You are in a new, demanding environment and everything is different. You may feel like you are expected to “grow up” all at once, and this may feel depressing or even overwhelming. You may feel far away from the people who usually are there to love and support you. Or, perhaps you are a student who does not feel “homesick” per se, but feels disappointed in the people you are meeting or the lack of reciprocity by others in initiating activities or friendships. If you are a new student who is distressed, you may see other students seeming happy and optimistic. But it may surprise you to hear that lots of other students are scared and sad, even if they don’t obviously show it or admit it.
If you are struggling with the transition to college, there are some things you can do to help yourself make the adjustment:
- Reach out to others in your residence hall.
- Join campus organizations and clubs that appeal to you. Search for Student Organizations here!
- Make an extra effort to take care of yourself, including making time to rest, eat balanced meals, exercise and avoid abuse of alcohol or other drugs.
- Adjust your expectations if things are not working out as you planned.
- Seek out resources on campus that can help you address problems and get support, both academically and personally. Including: Counseling & Psychological Services, the Academic Success Center, the Women’s Center, Student Health Services, and Career Services. Each of these resources will also assist in connecting you with other helpful resources on campus.
The SUCCEED Program at OSU
The SUCCEED program at CAPS is designed especially for students who want to reduce their stress on campus.
In the workshop, participants will learn how to “Create, Energize, Excel, and Determine” and how to draw on campus resources to maximize their benefits from them, using this multi-modal approach.
Students who wish to register for the workshop are served best if they email Salaheddine.Ziadeh@oregonstate.edu under the subject heading “SUCCEED REGISTRATION”. Space is limited, so priority is given to those who register first.
This article was adapted with permission from the Villanova Counseling Center, to read the full article please visit http://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/studentlife/counselingcenter/infosheets/adjusting.html