Four years ago, I was that one-in-a-million student who was really scared to go away to college. While all my friends were ecstatic about living away from home and meeting new people, I was the one who cried and worried about every last thing: Would I like my roommate, would my roommate like me, how hard were college classes going to be, will I get lost on campus, who would I sit with in the cafeteria for two meals a day, wait... I only get two meals a day?
There were so many unknown factors when it came to choosing to go away to college that I just did not think I could do it. I got to the point where I could no longer put off college searching. I looked at two-year community colleges and wondered if commuting was a better option than living away on a campus somewhere.
I stumbled upon Cabrini while online searching for colleges not far from my hometown and figured I would visit campus. Of the few schools I looked at, Cabrini felt the most right for me: It is a small community, a 30-minute drive from my hometown, and it is a Catholic institution, which I was excited about being able to attend mass on campus. So many things seemed perfect, but I was still a wreck when it came to the thought of starting this new chapter in my life.
My parents were persistent and told me going away and living at college versus attending a community college was the best option for me (and trust me, as much as you might not want to admit it, your parents really do know best).
Right before it was almost too late, I committed to Cabrini.
Move-In Day came faster than I expected and a lot of tears were shed during that 30-minute car ride to campus. My family helped me move in all my things, and I decorated my room with lots of photos. At the end of the day, I can still vividly remember the moment I said goodbye to my parents. With my roommates at my side, two girls I had never met before, who both happened to be named Sarah (yeah, that wasn’t confusing at all, haha) I got through that first night away from home and I can honestly say things have been pretty great ever since.
If you have the opportunity to go away to college but you’re scared of the changes and the unknown, I promise you will be okay. You will learn to navigate campus pretty quickly and find multiple people to eat meals with in the cafeteria. You will figure out how to manage your time and how much you need to study to achieve the grades you want. You will create lifelong friendships and maybe even enjoy living away from home.
College is an opportunity to overcome your fears. I have grown immensely as a person because of my college experience. I appreciate my education and my time away from home so much. My advice to anyone who is nervous about committing to college is take this chance no matter how scared you are. Do not let the fear of the unknown stop you from experiencing what most likely will be the best four years of your life.