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Even the most confident among us have moments of anxiety – in fact, the two are by no means mutually exclusive. When it comes to the idea of starting college, it’s something that many of us have been ready to do for quite some time. However, as humans, the idea of change can sometimes be scary to us, and that’s absolutely alright. Change isn’t always a bad thing though, and college is definitely a prime example.
Think of the freedom!
Throughout your life, you’ve probably had to deal with structure, rules and being told what to do. While there are undeniable elements of that which will follow you for the rest of your life, for the first time, you’ll have independence.
If you’re moving away from home, you can come home at whatever time you like, eat whatever you like and basically be your own person. This means there’s a chance to really come into your own and make your life the way you want it.
However – be smart about it. Getting into some good habits at the beginning will help you in the long run. Eat healthy, balance late nights with early ones and try not to procrastinate (too) much! You won’t have your mom to kick you into gear; you have to do that yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkqibzvUehk
Set some goals
The last thing you want is for your college years to fly by without making the most of them. For a lot of us, they’re the days we look back on wistfully and so you really want to make sure that you’re taking advantage of that time. Goals should not just be academic. You’re there to experience the social side, as well as to truly grow as a person.
Even if your goals are based on “baby steps”, that’s okay. Perhaps you’re scared of being homesick – or of failure? Taking up activities for self-care could really be useful at college, such as yoga or meditation. Others find that tarot readings are a great help in feeling better about the future, change and the amazing opportunities which may be coming up.
Go with the flow
While you can absolutely set goals, you can’t plan out exactly what you’re going to do at college. Seriously, don’t even try – going with the flow is way better and way less restrictive. Don’t pigeonhole yourself, even if you think you know what you want. If things don’t change, that’s fine, but go out of your way to find out why you want the things you think you want.
Perhaps you’re going with your sights set on a particular major or extracurriculars that you’re going to do. That’s great but you may find that, after six months, you discover a burning passion for something else entirely. Don’t be afraid to explore – that’s a huge part of what college is all about. Try everything, and don’t leave any opportunity out – you don’t want to leave with regrets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQYLwgfA5l4
However, looking after yourself is important, too. Being spontaneous and carefree in some respects doesn’t mean you should take dangerous risks. Push yourself out of your comfort zone, but don’t do anything stupid!
Overall, college is a time of discovery and learning. It’s exciting! Don’t miss out.
