The first week of college can be intimidating, especially for freshmen adjusting to campus life and, for many, a completely new lifestyle.
This time period is a challenge for hundreds of new freshmen on campus this year, and many upperclassmen can recall what their first week of college was like. Between finding classes, adjusting to unique workloads, and meeting new people, it can be hard to adapt to life at Wayne State College.
However, the life of a freshman within the first week of classes has many ups and downs.
“I thought I knew what college was going to be like, but once I got here, it was completely different than what I was expecting,” Katarina Jallen, a sports media major, said.
Like Katarina, most college students feel as though college is different than anything they’ve experienced before. Many students recognize that the jump from high school classes to college classes is one that they’re not always prepared for.
“My most challenging part of the week is probably actually learning what you need to take notes of, and what you don’t, because in high school, you think you need to take notes on everything,” Jallen said, “Once you’re in college, you realize that professors move through things super fast.”
The new schedules can also be difficult for new students to get used to. The back-to-back classes often start early in the morning, making it hard for students to wake up at an earlier time.
“The only thing I haven’t liked is going to class at 8 in the morning,” Mackenzie Crandell, a pre-nursing major and freshman at Wayne, said.
Crandell said her least favorite part of the first week was doing laundry, but she had an otherwise mostly successful first week at WSC.
Whitney Palmer, a freshman and psychology major here at Wayne, said that her anxiety has been a roadblock for her. She noted that it can be hard to make new friends due to this, but she also said she is adjusting to meeting new people.
“The best part for me is figuring out who I can actually be friends with,” she said.
One thing that many freshmen enjoy about heading off to college is the new freedoms they may not have had while at home. These freedoms may be overwhelming for some, but many find them to be rewarding.
“I’ve met a lot of great people, and I love meeting new people. I like the classes,” Palmer said, “You have a lot of freedom in college, compared to high school.”
Although most freshmen moved in on August 18, some moved in up to a week earlier due to their involvement in marching band, TRIO support services, and other programs.
“I’m in TRIO, so I came a week earlier,” Palmer said, “I made a lot of good friends.”
The first week was stressful for many students, but many found community and a positive outlook for the rest of the semester.
