Students formulate expectations about college life long before they leave home or when transferring to a new school. Some young adults look forward to college or leaving college, eager to experience more freedom and adventure.
Others may be enthusiastic initially but then discover that the experience falls short of their expectations when they don’t feel happy, comfortable, or secure in their new environment. Nearly every student encounters obstacles they didn’t anticipate during transitions.
Even positive life changes produce stress, and certainly the changes leaving an environment you enjoyed and new demands can lead to feelings of sadness, loneliness and worry. These feelings are typical and part of the developmental transition to any new place. Here are some tips to manage the transition:
- Stay engaged. Take part in college activities or first year experiences to build your connection to your new life on campus and make new friends. If leaving college, seek information for new professionals within the city or work environments you are transitioning in to.
- Establish a personal routine. Finding your rhythm and keeping each day as consistent as you can will help you get rest and feel more relaxed in your new role. If you are someone who goes to bed early and everyone's staying up late, it's OK to go to bed early.
- Talk to someone. Seek out people who either understand what you're going through or have similar feelings. There is probably a student group on campus or community organizations that are full of people who share your interests and/or background and have felt how you feel.
- Explore. Look online for new places nearby to check out, or just go for a walk. Asking others about their favorite places to eat or hang out is a great icebreaker, too.
- Move. Even just a 20-minute walk can improve your mood, reduce anxiety, and help you connect to your new environment.
- Refrain from comparing yourself to other people. It’s tempting to assume that you’re the only one struggling with adjusting to college life or beyond, but beware of comparing your internal experiences to others’ external appearances. Lots of people find college challenging, but not everyone talks about it.
- Consider utilizing counseling services. If your concerns are starting to impair your ability to attend class, take care of yourself, and/or feel like yourself, it may help to talk to a professional. Call 910.962.3746 to schedule an appointment. If you have left college, check Psychology Today for local providers or if you are in the Wilmington area, checkout our Referral Database.
