The overwhelming feelings of a first-year student. Photo courtesy of The University of Melbourne.
AVA ROEMER | OPINION COLUMNIST | aaroemer@butler.edu
Orientation at Butler is a great time of year filled with fun, games and laughs. It’s the perfect time to meet new people and explore campus. The opportunity to bond with the peers in your class while everyone is at the beginning of this journey makes it a sweet time of year.
As a first-year myself, I can say with confidence that orientation made the transition of getting settled in a lot easier and less lonely. It was really comforting knowing that more than a thousand other first-years were going through orientation with the same mixed feelings that I had.
Although the orientation process felt long and the transition into classes felt short, the switch from orientation to classes was a learning experience for me. We were given plenty of time to be crazy, make friends and get to know the campus before getting into the more precise school routine. Orientation is the perfect balance of light-hearted activities and socializing to even out the mixed bag of emotions most first-years feel.
It’s been more than two weeks since move-in day. Congratulations! We’ve made it to this point. We got to experience first-year orientation and the bittersweet time shared with family and friends on move-in day. But now families have left and classes have started, so, what now?
For me, at least, the feelings along the lines of “oh crap, I have to lock in for school now,” and “huh, so this is what it’s like living with another person?” are heavily prominent. But I’m here to remind you that it’s okay to not feel as hyped up about school anymore.
Don’t get me wrong, moving away to college has been my dream since my freshman year of high school. I had everything planned out to go perfectly. I would join many clubs, stay focused and on top of all my school work and instantly be amazing at my new job.
However, that has not been my reality. I keep reminding myself that it is normal for your college experience not to be what you expected, to feel homesick or maybe even be a little disappointed.
First-year biology major Ella Britain explains some of her heavy emotions about being a brand-new college student.
“At first, I missed my parents a little, but they’re 15 minutes [away], so it’s not much of a big deal,” Britain said. “I’m worried a little bit about missing out on stuff with my family. We’re pretty close, and both my siblings are much older than I, and they have their own lives, and I don’t want to really miss out on that — like weddings or if I ever become an aunt.”
I wish there was a pill I could take for the inevitable feeling of being homesick. This is a real experience that many college students, including me, struggle with. I can even admit to feeling very homesick since moving in.
However, it is also possible for you to be thrilled and motivated right now! Genesis Washington, a first-year criminology and psychology major, discussed her feelings about classes resuming after orientation.
“I’m happy that classes started because I don’t like all the idle time,” Washington said. “I don’t know how to fill that time. Having homework is good for me because I like schedules.”
Returning to the rhythm of school and classes provides structure and routine that orientation lacks. However, these feelings of being overwhelmed and homesick can still exist.
First-year sports media major Maeve Milless helped me understand some of the life transitions going to college can make you feel, which may be harder than we think to deal with.
“[Being independent is] definitely a part of being an adult,” Milless said. “Eventually, you’re gonna find your own friends, maybe a significant other that you’re going to do stuff with, and that’s going to be your life, more than your family and your friends from when you were growing up.”
Realizing that at some point in your life, it is no longer full of the people, places and ideas you grew up with is a first-year cannon event. At this point in our lives, we are starting to experience some of the first stages of adulthood. Living on our own, figuring out how to manage our own time and taking care of ourselves are all fundamental adulting habits we are trying to figure out right now. This is the time to make a change.
When the dust settles and the late nights with friends in the courtyard turn into late nights of studying, and the cute outfits turn into sweats because that’s what’s most comfortable to get me through the day, remember that it’s okay to not immediately feel awesome about college. It’s relatable not to feel excited about school anymore. It’s okay to deeply miss your family and your home.
