how did you feel when you first went?

Question

I am heading off to college on sunday morning and cant have family or outside contact for the first 2 weeks and i want to know how people felt when they first went off to college. Also how did they deal with missing the people back home and did anyone successfully keep a long distance relationship

Answer 1

At first, I felt very lonely and homesick when I went to University. There were lots of things I hated about student life, and the city I was studying in. Then came the change...

...I changed my way of thinking from negative to positive. I changed the preconceptions I had about different people. I changed what I thought and felt about my new surroundings. I made a point of actively embracing the things I feared, and my whole student experience changed before my very eyes.

I began to immerse myself more in my academic work and my student life, and really started enjoying myself. Instead of finding things I hated, I began to find more and more things I really liked.

If you are missing people back home, regular comminication helps a lot. These days with texts, email and cheap mobile phone tariffs it's very easy. Making a point of keeping in touch means that you don't feel as if you are moving away and becoming distant from the people you love or care about - and after a while, you will also have a number of new friendships in your college life and they will take your attention off feelings of homesickness.

The same thing goes for long distance relationships. I didn't have one but some of my friends did, and they were maintained by keeping in touch. Lots of my friends found that their relationships actually got stronger because they had been away from eachother. A kind of 'abscence makes the heart grow fonder' thing.

Now you will be meeting lots of new people, having new experiences, and doing many things for the first time ever. Embrace everything, because it will be a very fun and exciting time for you.

Answer 2

Umm.... I graduated high school a year early and went to the local university. We do not have a rule like yours (no outside contact) that is just crazy. I am really sorry that you have to go through that. My best advice for dealing with missing family is "Fill your days up". This works out great (especially if you do not work much) because it really makes school start to feel more like home. Join clubs, take extra classes that you enjoy such as photography, sports (have lots of exercise programs here). If I had a chance to change my first semester that is what I would have done. I hope this helps and good luck.

Answer 3

The beginning of the first semester is a little rough, but you will learn to develop a routine. The best thing to do is not to panic. If you schedule your life correctly, you will do fine.

Does every member of your family have an email account? Can you use it during your first two weeks? If so, this is an excellent way to keep in touch. You can even write an email at 2 in the morning, and you won't run the risk of bothering them. (As opposed to a phone call.)

Anyway, if you are genuinely focused on your studies, you won't have time to miss them. I know this sounds cold-hearted but it is true.

I hope you have a successful year!

Answer 4

Its an exhilarating experience of freedom and pending new adventures. Soak it all in. You will never forget the butterflies and the anxiety- and the thrill of college!

You wouldn't be human if you didn't long for home but the counterbalance is all the great friends and lasting experiences that lie ahead of you. In my experience, long distance relationships aren't the way to go because you will change a number of times between now and graduation. Give yourself the freedom to take it all in without the guilt and strain of a high school sweetheart. Better for both of you. Enjoy!

Answer 5

When I went off to college I didn't have to give up contact with my family. Even though I knew I could talk to my family I was glad to be on my own. Don't get me wrong, I love my family but I enjoyed being in college. I missed getting to see my younger brother. I know he missed me because he didn't have me there to stick up for him when he got in trouble. If I missed my family I would give them a call or send a little letter. My parents were also really good about sending me little care packages on my birthday and around holidays (Halloween, Christmas/end of the semester - exams, Valentine's Day, Easter). They also sent me pictures of my cat, Spiffy, which they now refuse to let me have. The good thing was that my grandfather lived about 45 minutes to an hour from my college so I could go visit him on some weekends. He also came up to visit and would take me out to lunch. Which I loved because I didn't get to eat out too often. During my time in college I had some friends, faculty, and staff that I was pretty close to. My friends were like my siblings and the faculty and staff were kind of like my parents. Well, they kept me in line and wouldn't let me give up or be too hard on myself. I had myself a genuine adopted family.

The only long distance relationship I had was with my family. The first 3 semesters of college my family was 2 hrs. away. At the end of my 3rd semester my family moved approximateyl 12 to 14 hours away. I didn't get to visit them as much which was ok with me but I did talk to them on the phone at least once a month and sent emails 2 or 3 times a month. After my parents moved I would spend Thanksgiving, Fall Break, Spring Break, and Easter weekend with him. I would also visit occasionally in between and we also would carpool to my parents home at Christmas. The great thing about visiting my grandfather was that I got a home cooked meal as well as a meal out and I also got to do my laundry. Doing laundry at his house saved money.

Answer 6

when i first went to college, i was nervous. i was nervous and overwelmed for a few weeks. but once i got into the swing of things and used to things, i truly loved it. i have more fun at college than i ever thought i would have. it was some of the best experiences of my life, i loved it. however, i did have a boyfriend when i went off to college and our relationship ended as we were not able to see eachother much and when we did we didn't get much time together as he worked, i worked and went to school. it was rough but it was ok. i ended up marrying someone much better anyway, so it's all good.

Answer 7

Wow, 2 weeks. I feel for you...

I live a few blocks from my college and my parents live next door to me. It's gonna be funny though, putting my 3 year old back in day care, as we had been on "holiday" for the last 2 years.

I'm also happily single and prefer it that way (no one to answer to and no conflict with school).

Hang in there...

Answer 8

I was homesick of course but in a few days you get more comfortable.

Don't know anything about long distance relationships...

College is a blast! Enjoy yourself.

Answer 9

why can't you have outside contact for the first 2 weeks what type of college are you going to?

Answer 10

Congratulations. It's different, you are not going through the same drama like high school. Just watch yourself and make sure you know the time and where your classes is at and prepare to study!!!