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The time is upon you to live on campus while you earn your four year college degree. I remember moving into my dorm as if it were yesterday. "First-day-of-school jitters" doesn't even begin to describe the momentous occasion. The sweat on my palms was evidence of how scared I was at the prospect of walking the halls alone for four years. Unbeknownst to me, everyone was just as nervous (but probably not as sweaty) as I was about making friends, avoiding trekking campus by our lonesome, eating lunch solo, amidst obtaining a four year university degree.

Freshman year won't be so bad if you just get out there and be your great self! Here's some extra advice to take with you to campus from those who have earned their four year college degree with campus social obstacles.

Enhance Your Social Skills
"There are always plenty of mixers at the beginning of the year that allow freshmen to not only get acquainted with each other, but upperclassmen as well," says Clint Buck, who's in the process of earning a four year college degree at Austin College (Sherman, TX). "Take full advantage of these situations and don't be afraid to approach people and introduce yourself. One of my friends made friends by sitting with random groups of people at lunch."

Don't Be Shy
"Everyone is in the same boat as you; we all look for friends," recalls Aaron Blank, a former orientation leader who earned his four year university degree at Quinnipiac University (Hamden, CT). "Don't be shy about going up to your peers. The first month, everyone is looking for acquaintances."

Get Involved
"Join clubs that fit your interests, and you will easily find your niche," asserts Kelly Brashear, who earned her four year collge degree at Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA). "My freshman year, I moved 3,000 miles from home to go to college -- from hippie Oregon to somewhat-stuffy Boston -- and was feeling severely out of place and lonely until I joined the ski and snowboard club."

Most importantly, just go with the flow, college-bounders. "You will be out of your element on several occasions, but it's important to be open to new experiences," says Billy Brennan, who earned a four year college degree at Saint Louis University (St. Louis, MO). But it's also important to remember, co-eds, don't settle for taking part in an activity that goes against your morals and what you stand for while you're going for that four year university degree. You're attending school for an education and an amazing experience -- not to compromise your identity.


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Ysolt Usigan is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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