COLLEGE FRESHMEN! This one's for you!

New to college? Back to the bottom of the foodchain when it comes to school? It's okay, we've all been there. Everyone has been a freshman at least once in their life.

Experiencing college for the first time can bring many feelings. You're excited but scared. You're trying to be happy and put yourself out there but deep down you just miss home and all things familiar. You miss your family and friends. That was me last year. College was kind of scary at first, not knowing many people going in. I had an older sister that also went to FSU so that definitely helped, but the only other people I had "met" was through social media, and that was kind of scary. But, I have some encouragement for you if you're up for it.

College has honestly changed me for the better so far. You go through so much growth in just your first year. You meet your best friends that you'll probably have for a very long time. You get to learn how to be an adult with others who are also learning for the first time too. You get to learn how to be independent together and that's a beautiful thing.

In some ways, college is a lot of how you have pictured it will be. Late night excursions with your roommate, laughing till 3 am with your suitemates, lots of spontaneous decisions and trips, meeting many people you probably will never see again, the fun football season, walking around the beautiful campus listening to some good music feeling the college aesthetic that's on the TV shows (you know what I mean), and more. I can confirm, all of these things will probably happen. It's pretty great. As for the whole roommate thing, it can go either really great or really bad. I got to experience both ends of the spectrum personally. One ended up to be one of my best friends, one not so much, it really just depends. That's for another post though.

But, as fun as all of these things can be, you will have your homesick nights, but those will slowly fade away. I promise. You'll build a family of people there before too long. But just know, you're going to make a lot of friends. And I mean, a lot. Some you'll meet in class, some at school events, some at football games, some through mutual friends, some at church, some on campus, some in your dorm or apartment complex, the list goes on and on. Some people you'll talk to for a semester and never see them again, and that's okay! That's college for you. Lots of temporary friends. But you'll seem to notice the ones who stick around for multiple semesters. Those are probably going to be your closest friends. And you won't be able to imagine your life without them even though you've only known them less than a year.

You will find your people. Even if it takes a little while. Don't lose hope. So when you're starting out, go to all the events you can. Meet the people on your floor. Put yourself out there, and don't be afraid to talk to strangers. They may just end up being one of the most close friends you've ever had. And your friends are what makes your college experience so much more fun. Find something to get involved in. For me, it was church. For you, that could be a club or an organization. Maybe a sorority or fraternity. The bottom line is find something you enjoy. It will make all the difference.

Always be yourself when meeting new people. Don't focus on trying to become the person you think they want to be friends with. This is something a lot of people can struggle with starting out in college, myself included. I think part of that comes from the fact that all these new people have absolutely no preconceptions of you and know nothing about you or your past. But the truth is, if the people you meet don't like your true self, THAT'S OKAY!! Not everyone is going to be compatible. You're not in high school anymore so you don't have to be friends with everyone, and that, my friend, is a beautiful thing. But, the people you do end up becoming friends with truly like you for you, and that is a lot more special of a feeling.

When I graduated high school in May, I couldn’t wait to move and go to college. I didn’t have much left for me at home. I had lost a lot of my friendships, and in a way I felt like I had no one. I was ready for a fresh start and change. Change is what I got for sure. But the transition was beautiful. I absolutely love FSU and Tallahassee and believe God has called me here for a reason. I love the beautiful, close friendships I have formed. I love my family who has always and will always be a support system for me no matter how far away they are. I love the community I’ve found at Experience Church, and I love being able to continue to serve on a worship team. There are so many things I have to be thankful for. I’m consistently learning and growing in my faith surrounded by others who are also growing in their faith. It’s such a beautiful picture that I’ve always wanted to experience, and God answered my prayers. Let this testimony encourage you. You may not see the light at the end of the tunnel. I know I didn’t. But, God’s got you & He is going to take care of you. Surrender it all to Him. Hold onto Him. You will get through this.

I hope you found some encouragement in this post, and I want you to know, you got this. This transition especially can be difficult for sure, but you have brighter days ahead. Keep your head up. Stand tall. Be confident. Be yourself. Put yourself out there. You will be a-okay. Give all your fears, anxieties, and worries to God. He knows you better than anyone.

Well, that'll be it for this post, but make sure to subscribe if you liked it, and I hope I can give you even more encouragement in the future! Feel free to reach out if you wanna chat about this transition, and I'll see ya next time!