As the summer months come to an end, the hustle and bustle of fall rapidly breathes life back onto campus. With the swift changes that accompany the taxing yet exhilarating transition period of a students first year, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and to find yourself unsure of what the future may bring.
As an incoming sophomore reflecting on my own first-year experience, I too felt anxious and intimidated, not only in leaving behind my family and the home I grew up in, but having to take big steps towards finding myself in an unfamiliar space.
One of the places where I found these emotions to be the most overwhelming was in the classroom. After the first week of classes, I discovered that the confidence I had in high school to actively participate in discussions had quickly dwindled away. If I am being honest, I even found myself feeling nervous to say my name during attendance. All of these strong emotions are completely normal and valid, but if I were to be presented with the opportunity to give my younger self some advice on that first week, I would say to push past the fear of giving the wrong answer, as not only will it help in the learning process, but it will also help to grow your confidence as a student.
While every person’s experience is complex and different in their own way, there are often many similarities that can be discovered within the transition into college.
For sophomore Anna Minino, the aspect of putting yourself out there was the most daunting.
“I sometimes got in my head about meeting new people”, Minino explains.
Minino drives home the point that the anxiety around meeting others can be extremely intimidating, but it is important to put yourself out there, as while it may not seem like it on the surface, many first-year students find themselves scared but excited to make new friends as they continue their journey.
Putting yourself out there can be a huge way to inspire personal growth. However, taking big steps can cause fears of failure to prevent you from experiencing some amazing things. While intimidating, Emily Lamoureux ‘27 thinks back on taking these steps fondly.
“I wish that I went out of my comfort zone more. I find that the times that I went out of my comfort zone were my best memories from my first year,” Lamoureux reflects.
In some first-years’ experiences, students were able to step out of their comfort zone and meet new people by hanging out in their residence hall lounges, which was an aspect of dorm living that Jenna Walsh ‘27 wishes she had taken advantage of sooner.
“I wish that I hung out in my building’s lounge more often. It’s a great way to make connections with the people you are living with,” Walsh shared.
In other cases, students found that stepping off campus to explore was a way to seek out new experiences. Jane Coppola ‘27 hopes that she can encourage others to take a trip into town.
“I wish I would have gone off campus and into town to try restaurants sooner, there are so many good ones and it’s so fun to do with friends!” Coppola exclaims.
In my own experience, as well as the experiences of fellow Stags, taking the time to understand these feelings and challenge yourself to grow outside of your comfort zone is a vital part of the first-year experience. While each first-year experience will be different for every student, it is incredibly important to remember that confusing and overwhelming emotions are normal, and that you are not alone in your journey in making Fairfield University your new home.
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