About My Self: My Collage Life

KYPM, Cheras (A-Level 1995)

Those of us who are college veterans will never forget our freshman year at college. Some of us may like to forget our freshman year, but in general it is a time filled with anticipation, some anxiety, and wonderful discoveries. College is a lot different than high school. I may decide to commute from my home to a

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The first thing I’ll notice is the workload. It will be heavier and more intense than I ever experienced before. The major challenges of college work are the large volume of reading, the short deadlines, and the writing, writing, writing. A related effect that can be brought on by the workload is doubt, frustration, and possibly loneliness.

I’ll be away from the comforts and friendships my home provided for me over the previous years. On some of those long, seemingly endless nights of studying and writing, it will be only natural for me to long for the good old days. Hang in there. These down periods will pass. Whatever I do, don’t make major decisions about my major, my courses, or even your roommate during one of these blue periods. Things always look better in the morning.

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I’ll be making a lot of new friends. Continue to be myself. Don’t strike a pose or play the role of someone I’m not. Select my friends with the same care and patience I have always used. Believe it or not, my college friendships will be among the most satisfying and long-term of my life. It’s always exciting to discover how wonderfully diverse college relationships can be. I’ll also be on my own, my own boss (more or less) 24 hours a day. Be careful here. Don’t go flying off the end of the pier. Enjoy my newfound freedom. Stay up until dawn talking about my ideals and ambitions with my dorm’s regular bull session buddies. Sleep in until the afternoon on a light class day. Explore the local town or suburbs with one or two of my new friends. Remember, though, with freedom comes responsibility. Even though my parents won’t be around to follow up on my loose ends, I shouldn’t let things go completely. Just find my own style.

I may even start to think about my future. Be on the lookout for role models. Maybe a certain professor is especially inspiring. Perhaps my school has some ground-breaking research going on. Be sensitive to my own gravity. If some area of study attracts me, find out all I can about it. It might be the beginning of my self-definition process. Going to college is as much about finding out who I’m really are as it is about getting that degree.