(Written by Kendra, STAR blogger)

Hello again, Bloggers:

Today, I got to thinking about the way I felt, living on a college campus, throughout my entire freshmen year. Quite often it seemed like I was never going to feel as if college was where I belonged. I was so used to being known by all of my peers in high school that I didn't remember what it was like to be the new girl amongst many others. Being a freshman again wasn't exactly something I was looking forward to. So, these thoughts lead me to the question: Does college ever really feel like home?

To get straight to the point, yes, college does feel like home, but it takes time. In fact, it takes most people, including myself, a full two semesters at college to start considering college your home-away-from-home. Some people adjust within a couple of weeks, but they are far and few between the rest of us who feel out of place--who feel like such small people in such a big and unfamiliar world.

I know I've said it before, but I can't stress it enough that your experience of college is, and will be, exactly what you make it. It’s all about your mindset. Of course you're going to miss your family, your friends, your pets, and the familiarity of home; of course its going to be tough to get used to the academics, the living in a dorm, and having so much free time; of course it’s going to be exhausting to balance the time you spend studying with the time you spend socializing; of course you’re going to struggle with scheduling times to be exercising, eating or sleeping. But I never said it was going to be easy! I did say, though, that it will be worth it. So, let me tell you the good news.

The good news is that being away from the place you call home will make you appreciate your family and friends that much more. I used to fight with the people I love because I was always around them. But being away made me realize that life is too short to argue instead of love. Arguing is inevitable sometimes, but college can help teach you how to take responsibility for your actions, to admit when you're wrong, and to pick and choose your battles. Being away from home will also teach you how to be more independent and how to figure out the best ways for managing your personal stress. The harder you work at your grades your freshmen year, the easier your classes will be in your sophomore, junior and senior years. And I can guarantee that you will feel much better about living away if you're being productive. You really do get out of college exactly what you put into it.

So, for those of you who are worried that going to college is going to make you feel like you don't belong, do yourself a few favors: take a tour or two of your campus to familiarize yourself with your new "home," go to your freshmen orientation and meet some new friends who are probably feeling the same way you are, contact your new roommates about things you'll want to contribute to your dorm room, and, most importantly, go into your first semester--your first year of college--with an open mind and positive thoughts for your future. If you do those things, I promise you won't feel out of place for too long.

Remember: its not the dorms, the dining hall, the library or the campus that make college feel like home; its the friendships and lessons you learn in the midst of it all that truly make college your home-away-from-home, and one of the most memorable times of your life.

Until next time,
Kendra

P.S. If you would like help with your college search, remember you can always call the Center for College Planning at 888.7.GRADUATE ext. 119 or view their website here.