3 Things I Learned from Transferring to a Four-Year College
These past two weeks have been a bit of a wild ride. Besides the sweltering heat that has made me feel like I am drowning in a pool of sweat 24/7, the 23rd of August marked the day in which I plunged into the world of adulting a.k.a. my transition from community college to a four-year institution.
As one might expect from this, shimmying my way into these uncharted waters has been a big bag of mixed emotions.
On one hand, I was super excited to begin this journey. Like a little kid fantasizing about their Prince Charming, I had been dreaming about this moment ever since I stepped into the life of a community college gal. Well, that might sound a bit dramatic, because who really fantasizes about student loans, a conveyer belt of stress and that impending question of what you want to do with your life?
But I still dreamed of what going away to school entailed. Freedom, a fresh beginning, a sense of belonging — things I did not feel like I was firmly grasping at home.
Sure, I did make the most of my extra time at community college — I was editor of my college newspaper (which I loved doing), made some friends along the way, was able to have a part-time job and genuinely ended up enjoying community college.
But I had also been watching my friends prance into the sunset wearing their college apparel, all adult-like and independent, for two years. This time it was my turn. Sayonara, community college.
On the other side of this big transition, I was also terrified to go through another change in my life.
Adjusting to community college had been a battle itself, a battle that led to a boatload of mental illnesses that still affect me sometimes. It took lots and lots and lots of hard to bring me back to being okay again, and I thought to myself, What would happen now that I'd be on my own? What if I couldn't handle another change? What if everything would come spiraling back? What scared me the most was not knowing how things would end if I did go through something like that again.
Still, I knew what I wanted. I was tired of living in a confined bubble, and I wanted to experience what it was like to live in a town where I did not have memories yet. I was sure as heck that I was not going to let fear intrude on something that I had been longing for. So, I sent in my college applications with nervous butterflies and counted down to the day that I would part ways from the world of community college.
Flash forward to today, and here I am. Alive and well. Surviving as a four-year college student.
To be quite honest with you, the whole thing was much easier than I thought it would be. In fact, the anticipation of the transition process was a lot scarier than the transition itself. Has it taken a few days to get used to? Of course.
But I'm sitting here two weeks into this thing, and I’m already feeling like I belong here. Like I am not a total newb trying to blend into campus life.
I am beginning to become closer to the friends I have made, my stomach has adjusted to the delicious (it's not) campus cuisine, and I am getting into the core of my major (the part in which I was most excited about). Heck, I even started tearing up a bit in the middle of class, because I was thinking of how pumped I am to dive into this college thing even more.
But like any change, there have been a few rare moments where I somewhat miss what my life was like. The ease and comfort of it. As much as I am enjoying the independence of college, it's strange not having that familiarity around. My mom is not with me on adventures to local eateries, my dad is not besides me when I am walking on the treadmill, my dog is not dreaming at the foot of my bed while I am on my computer — these are all things I yearn for.
And Lord, do I miss my "me" time.
Still, I know I must part from these comforts for a little while in order to figure things out on my own, to become the person I am molding into. Because it is during these processes of change that I have learned the most lessons.
1. Change is supposed to be uncomfortable
Whether you choose to enter to realm of change or whether you are forced into it, it can be pretty terrifying and weird. I mean, you are used to whatever schedule you have, because you've been living it for a long enough period of time where you know what to expect. Even if what you expect isn't exactly satisfying, you can feel relaxed in knowing what's next.
It's when our expectations are flipped that we feel that level of discomfort. When our environment, job, relationship status, whatever, alters its course, that's when we freak out. We don't know what will happen. Whether it will be good or bad. It's like wandering through the dark without a flashlight. We could be surrounded by fairies and sunflowers, but we wouldn't know because we're confused by the darkness.
However, it is that discomfort that makes change so important. It throws us for a loop and makes us question what we really want in life. I mean, hey, we change as people overtime — Lord knows I wasn't the same 10 years ago — so we are bound to experience a change in our surroundings.
Change is supposed to be difficult to endure because it is supposed to challenge us. We need to question who we are every once in awhile in order to update our way of thinking, of making sure what holds the most value in our lives.
2. The discomfort is temporary
The biggest thing about the discomfort of change is although it is challenging, most of the time, it is only a brief moment of discomfort.
Just think about the first day of school. You have become accustomed to the ways of your summer schedule. Waking up late, working all day, hanging out with friends at night (if you aren't drained from work). Then, suddenly, it's the first day of school and you're like "What? I have to get up at before 8 a.m., sit in a classroom and actually do work" *shutter*. But after the first day, you are adjusting already. In a few days, you feel normal. In a few weeks, it's your average routine.
The same goes with any sort of change. The anticipation of it and the initial jump into it are probably the worst parts of the shift, but once you adapt to it, it becomes another routine and you question why you ever thought you couldn't do it.
3. From change sprouts the most self-growth
Looking back now, that switch from high school from community college was the best thing that could happen to me as far as discovering who I am as a person. In that short span of time, I was able to realize that I am stronger than I am. That I can learn how to be independent and confident just from changing my mindset really.
What I have realized is that change is the only way a person can grow. A change in your environment, a change in your relationship status, a change in who you are surrounded by, a change in how you view things. These are all things that have the ability to transform us and teach us about ourselves.
If you stayed in the same position for the rest of your life, just think of how boring your life might turn out. It's important to experience all sorts of scenarios in order to unleash those hidden qualities about ourselves.
September tends to be a time of change for all of us. The transition from summer to fall brings a wave of emotions, sometimes good, sometimes bad.
But the thing is, as cheesy as it is, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Your friend,
Jane
