New state, new slate, new faces and new places: First-Year. The first year of college marks a new chapter of life, one filled with freedom and responsibility. The first time living away from home can be scary, but the independence of learning to be on your own aids in self-discovery.
As my own first year of college concludes in just a few weeks, I have been reflecting back on the course of the year– what I have enjoyed, what I think could have been different, what I now know about myself. Soon to be passing down the torch to the incoming class of 2029, there is useful information to know about being at Fairfield and at college in general.
Buy that WooZoo Fan. The best investment in my college dorm has been this fan. Although it may be seen as nothing special, the WooZoo is a game changer. Fall, Winter and Spring this fan has been on. During the hot second wave of summer weather in the early months of the first semester, the WooZoo was one of the only items that would keep air circulating in the room.
Be open-minded. College is a fresh start. You can be who you always wanted to be. You have the opportunity to meet new people from various backgrounds and places. Push yourself to talk to people you would not typically go up to in high school. Never limit yourself and what you think you can achieve. Everyone is in the same boat.
Talk to people you meet in the communal bathroom and hallway of your building. You will meet some of your closest friends in the communal bathroom. Even if talking to someone new leads to being just acquaintances, the communal bathroom was a bonding experience. It sounds very strange, I know. But, brushing your teeth, doing your skincare and drying your hair leads you to talk to and get to know your floormates.
Find your niche. Community is everything, especially at Fairfield University. Since we don’t have Greek life like most universities, finding a club or sports team is important in building a sense of belonging. I have found my community within the Mirror since the early days of being a First-year where I have had the chance to meet amazing writers that have made my adjustment to Fairfield easier.
In terms of academics, first-year Reegan Shea suggested, “Don’t be afraid to ask for help from professors and go to tutoring– I’ve seen a huge impact in my grades since getting tutoring and more academic support outside the classroom really does make the biggest difference.”
Attend Fairfield at Night (F@N) events in the beginning of the semester. I remember trying to find my place the first two weeks at school. During fall orientation weekend, Fairfield at Night events were promoted by FYE leaders and on the Fairfield instagram account. F@N events helped me to meet many new people, some who are now my friends or even acquaintances. Fairfield at Night is a good resource for the beginning of the school year.
Give yourself grace. It’s your first time acting like an adult. The beauty of college is that you are on the tethering line between adolescence and adulthood. You are not going to know how to do everything right away. Whether you fumble a friendship or a relationship, accidentally not get an assignment in on time, or say the wrong thing, it’s ok to fall between the cracks a few times. It is part of being human and it is most definitely part of being an 18/19-year-old.
First-year Dylan Ciorciari testified, “Learn that rejection isn’t always a reflection of you or a bad thing. When finding friends, you’re going to meet so many people and being rejected from someone or a group might hurt, but remember that just means better is out there for you. Just because someone doesn’t want to be your friend doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you.”
Call home often. Home can be your parents, guardians, siblings or grandparents. Home can also be anyone who feels like a safety net for you. Just because you are building a life at school, doesn’t mean you lose out on the life you have known. I, along with others I know, feel that we get too engrossed in academics, friendships and clubs at college that our home life feels diminished in some capacity. Home can co-exist and you can always go back to what you once knew.
Expect it to feel weird going home the first couple times. The first time I went home after being at Fairfield was the day after Prez Ball, which was the last weekend in September. I remember walking in the place I lived the last 18 years of my life and feeling uncomfortable. It takes awhile to get reacclimated to the culture of home versus the culture of school. Going home still feels a little weird, even as we just finished our last break of the year before the school year concludes.
College is a once in a lifetime experience. Being able to have the opportunity to live away from home and meet new people from a plethora of backgrounds is a blessing. Looking back on the first-year experience, it is not as scary on the tail end of it. Whether the first-year of college has been everything you envisioned or fell short of what you imagined, there are still many fun times and new adventures to be had in the next three years at Fairfield.