Not What I Thought

Wow…I’ve been here at Liberty for three weeks already! Some days fly by, and some days drag on… But I’m loving every minute of it, and I’m trying to make a conscious effort to soak up each day that I’m here. Freshman year will only happen once, and I’ve already realized it’s a special time because it’s a year of firsts: like experiencing what it’s like going to go to class for the first time, living independently for the first time, and learning the routine of college life for the first time. And all of these firsts have been accompanied by many learning moments, and I think one of the major things I’ve learned is this:

College is not what I thought.

But don’t worry, it’s all been a very positive experience! It’s just that, in all the days leading up to coming to Liberty, I filled my brain with every article that popped up on my social media accounts that related to “What To Know Your Freshman Year of College.” If it had advice for what to expect during your first year at college, I eagerly read it. If it had tips for what to bring to your dorm room or how to decorate, I pinned it on my Pinterest board. A lot of things I read were really great, and I practically soaked my brain in all of the things I thought applied to me; however, since being here on campus, not everything I’ve experienced has matched up with all of those things. And I realized it’s because all of those things are opinions.

So college is not what I thought.

First of all, I’ve learned that I can do more than just survive in college… I can thrive. Based on everything I read, I had it in my head that college was going to be so hard that I wouldn’t enjoy it. That I would “go through the motions” until I got my degree at the end of my 4 years. That I’d dislike my classes and possibly my professors. That I’d only truly enjoy the people I met. But that’s not the case… three weeks into my classes and I can genuinely say that I LOVE my classes and my professors. Yes, there are moments when it’s hard, and there are a few classes that aren’t my favorite, but I realized that that doesn’t have to stop me from thriving and growing from what I’m being taught.

I’ve also learned that even though I’m living on my own and have to be independent and responsible for myself, my mom is still the person I go to. About a month out from moving to Liberty, I started to fear that my relationship with my mom would suddenly shift once I got here. I heard many different people say, “Don’t forget to call your mom every once in a while! She’s going to miss you!” And I always thought, Of course I’ll call her. How could I not? But as the days got closer, I started to worry I wouldn’t be able to handle everything I would have on my plate, and I’d end up talking to her less than I hoped to. But that fear was definitely fleeting!! My mom is still the person I go to when something exciting happens, when something sad is hurting me, or when I just have to share a story. Thanks, Mom 😊❤️

Something else I’ve found to be different for me: balancing my homework, my social life, and sleep hasn’t been that hard. This is something I had instilled into my brain… that balancing these three categories were practically impossible. Yes, I must admit, there have been days that I’ve stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to finish an assignment, which has resulted in some pretty exhausting days because I’ve been so tired. But so far, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how well I’ve been able to balance all of these. (And yes, I am aware things will be a bit more challenging when finals week hits me 😅)

And while this certainly wasn’t something I read about in any article, I have learned that Liberty is a big school… But not THAT big. I learned this quickly when I started recognizing people on campus. I’ve seen people from my classes at the dining hall, in the library, or just walking around. I’ve seen someone I passed in the main lecture building in my dorm building. I’ve seen people from school activities at the bookstore. It’s kind of crazy… Liberty is big. VERY big. I thought it was so large that you barely saw people you knew unless you made an effort to. But… it isn’t that big. 😳

These are just a few observations I’ve had. It’s been quite an adjustment these past three weeks, but it’s been a positive one for sure. College is not what I thought… But that’s okay because I LOVE all of the aspects that I’ve learned are different than what I thought. And disclaimer: there are definitely things that are spot on from advice articles I read (Like how some of the people you meet during the first week of school won’t be the same people you hang out with the rest of the year, and how you should step out of your comfort zone and introduce yourself and try new things). But I’ve come to the realization that no matter what, the best college experience I will get will be what I make of it.

I’m so excited to make the most of everything that’s yet to come!!