NAUTI TRUTH: College Transition

GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS... WELLNESS WEDNESDAY 

COLLEGE IS HARD, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. In this post, I am going to dive into the  Nauti Truth about transitioning into college and all of the things that I WISH I was told when entering this life changing experience. 

Going from high school to college is not an easy transition, for everyone, not matter what they tell you. For most students, you are leaving your home, your family, and your friends. This is a really difficult step that everyone seems to skip over when talking about their college experience. 

As I eagerly asked my older friends about college, they all highlighted the good. Talking about all the friends they were making, parties they were going to, and (of course) cute new boys they were meeting. They also talked about how much they loved college and it felt like home the second the arrived on campus their freshman year. 

I wasn't the first person from my high school to get to college so I had been seeing everyone posting on social media about their transition and it looked so fun. Then it was FINALLY my turn to encounter college. When I first got here, everything was new and exciting. I was meeting new people and experience completely new experiences. But this all dwindled away after the first month-ish. As school started picking up,  I felt like there was something wrong with me. I was seeing Snapchat stories and Instagram posts about anyone and everyone I knew still having a blast in college, and seeming to be busy every second of everyday. I didn't want to seem like the odd one out, so when people asked me how I was liking college and if it was fun I responded, "I love it here! I am having so much fun!"

And that's probably what it looked like too. I was strategically posting something on at least one social media site every time I went out to make sure I was showing people I was doing something fun and was making friends. This felt so fake. As I was going through my Instagram posts and old Snapchat stories, I realized that I was making my life seem way more exciting than it was. 

What people don't share on their social media while they are in college is them being homesick, hours on end studying at the lib, and them watching Netflix in their room alone on a Friday night. Everyone likes to show the world the best version of themselves, me included! But don't be afraid to be real with people too. 

If you find yourself feeling this same way don't ever feel like you are alone. I know this is something you probably have heard a million times but by getting involved, college will start to become more like home. For me, joining a sorority was really helpful because it gave me a group of girls I can go to whenever I need anything. But this wasn't the end all cure all. I am still trying to find my place here on campus to make San Diego State really feel like home and that is okay. It is not an easy task so don't get down on yourself if the transition isn't as smooth as you hoped because truth is, it's not easy for anyone. 

L I V E   N A U T I

Ashlyn