Navigating the first semester

Remember when your kindergarten teachers would ask you what you wanted to be when you grew up? I always had very well thought out answers like "doctor" or "lawyer," as opposed to other kids' answers of "princess," "astronaut," or "superhero." From a young age, I knew I wanted to go to college and become as educated as my parents, as they are my biggest role models in life and I aspire to make them proud. Although, as I went through the process of applying to college, finding a roommate, and preparing to move in, I began to dread leaving home. I'd always wanted to move far away for college, but the closer it got, the more apprehensive I felt. I had gone to school with the same people since kindergarten, knew my hometown like the back of my hand, and loved spending time with my family and dogs. I couldn't even imagine not seeing my people every day.

The chaos of packing and moving in left me with little time to absorb my reality. I was now living by myself for the first time in my life, apart from going to summer camp. This time, I wasn't coming home every weekend and had to actively make friends, not get assigned them into my cabin. The first couple days were a rush of emotions, fueled by the novelty of finally being where I'd dreamed of for so long. My orientation group and roommate were my built-in friends for the few days of orientation, after which I had to put myself out there.

If you knew me six months ago, you would know that I was not a social butterfly by any means. While I have grown a lot socially since being here, back then it took a lot in me to go up and introduce myself to someone. But I did. All. The. Time. If I have any advice for high school students worried you won't make friends in college, I promise you will. All you need to do is be open-minded—sit by new people in class, say hi to people in your dorm, and look up from your phone when you're walking outside. You'd be surprised how many people I've come to know just by being off my phone and being present when walking around campus. School groups and clubs can also be a great way to make friends. I joined a campus ministry and bible study in the first week, which helped me stay faithful in the chaos and ground myself. It doesn't matter whether the club has 5 or 50 people, there will always be someone you can connect with.

Wellness is also important in college; since my schedule is often very busy and it causes me to be very stressed/emotional, finding ways to move my body and process my emotions was crucial. I started by going to yoga club, where I bonded with other girls over our love for movement. It is also good to spend time in solitude, which I find by going on walks and runs around campus and to local parks. I have discovered that exercise is a great way to process my day and works wonders as a study break, no matter how simple or strenuous it is. Whether it is going to the gym, attending a wellness club, or just going for a walk, movement has often made the difference between a bad day and a great day for me. I encourage you to find movement that works for you, no matter what it looks like.

As I close my first post, I would like to thank you all for reading. I decided to start this blog as a way to journal and process my experiences so far in college, so stay tuned for some fun stories and lessons I've learned from them! I'm so grateful for everyone who encourages me daily and would like to give a special shoutout to Elsa for inspiring me to start my writing journey (love you!!).

Later, love ya, bye!

Riley