Things I’ve Learned In My First Week of College

Lauren Gothberg
Sep 6, 2018 · 2 min read

Moving on to college is a MASSIVE step in the average American teenagers life. We’re moving away form the comfort of our nook back in Small Town, Homeville and leaving our family and friends and everything familiar to us. It’s a bit terrifying. We’ve never lived on our own. At least for me, everything up until this point has been provided to me. I’ve never had to worry about what I was going to make for dinner or figuring out parking passes, taxes, bills, tickets heck I hadn’t even figured out the postal system. Then all the sudden we’re booted out of our little nest we’ve known all our lives and thrown into another city surrounded by people who have absolutely no idea what they are doing either.

In a way that provides comfort knowing we are all learning together and no one feels left behind because heck we’re all clueless. I love how it’s not considered odd to strike up a conversation with a stranger in line for lunch or walking between classes because we’re all going through this together. We’re all meeting new people. We all welcome a friendly conversation and a smile. It’s comfortable, it’s what we miss from home. Companionship. That may be one of the hardest parts of moving away, we often times don’t know anyone coming with us. We’re all new.

I’ve found the best way to break into a conversation is by complimenting someone. Whether it be on their outfit, their hair, even their countenance. Everyone needs a little boost every once in a while. I cannot count the amount of times a single sentence compliment by a friend or a stranger has turned my entire day around and made me feel like I can hold on just a little longer.

From that compliment ask where they came from. People love to talk about home, it’s the only thing they really are sure about. It’s a comfort zone for them even from miles away. Go on and ask about classes, ask if they are adjusting well. Ask all the things you would ask a dear friend. Become a friend.

Everyone needs a pal, simply put. Go be a friend to someone. Go turn someone’s day around. Take out your earphones, put your phone in your pocket and go change a life. It’s not nearly as hard as it sounds.