Entering a new school, and possibly a new state, is nerve-wracking, no doubt. Anyone who says they are not anxious to enter college is most likely lying. Entering a new chapter of life at a college can put a heavy weight on students, athletes and activity-driven people. As a girl coming in with six other classmates from a small, all-girls high school in Pennsylvania—Gwynedd-Mercy Academy High School—joining a bigger community was daunting.
My transition into Fairfield was better than I thought it would be. As an introvert whose safe haven is my room, I assumed I would crash, burn and cry every day. But, becoming friends with the kindest girls on my floor the first week of school gave me hope for my future at Fairfield. I was so proud that I had met great people, making me feel content and at home already.
However, my transition into classes was a bit more challenging. Though I am mostly in general education classes (Magis Core) as a first-year, the college curriculum is far more rigorous than my high school’s. I was not used to reading textbook pages for homework and taking quizzes every week without fail. This was a challenge for me, but with repetition, I slowly got used to reading almost one hundred pages collectively a week.
Learning how to live with a randomly chosen roommate, getting used to communal bathrooms, finding time to study while making friends, being social and adjusting to a new environment are not easy obstacles to overcome. As the youngest in my family, having two older siblings in college gave me the upper hand in tactics for succeeding in my first weeks of school. This may not have even been necessary though, as Fairfield made the transition pretty easy and comfortable.
Coming from a high school with only four hundred students, my classes were very intimate and lively as we were all close friends. While most of my classes currently consist of first-years like myself, there is not much talkativeness in the classroom. While this may be better for my academics and focus, I did miss the rapport between students, and talking without being forced to.
Moreover, as a student coming from Pennsylvania, I assumed I would not meet many other Philadelphia residents. I was very nervous about the difference between myself and the students from New England which dominates the student body of Fairfield. I was overthinking a barrier between myself and New England natives, but I have proven myself wrong! Being with so many people from different states, all meeting in one beautiful spot, is so special. It is exciting to share our various traditions, teams and landmarks, and weigh in on the Dunkin’ versus Wawa debate!
While living nearly three hours away from Fairfield does not create the worst drive, during the majority of September, I found myself missing home a lot. I decided to set a goal to wait until fall break to return to Penn., which made me make do with where I was and carry on. FaceTime, phone calls and texting my family have helped me persevere through the middle of my first semester.
Has my opinion been alternating? Yes. But my ultimate decision? College is harder than I expected. Juggling academics, a social life, family time and self-care can be a recipe for disaster depending on how you look at it. I never assumed college would be a walk in the park, but admitting that things are hard can make them seem worth the energy, and Fairfield is definitely worth it to me!
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