Every year there’s an influx of students from all parts of the world and all walks of life, all looking for one thing more or less: a sound education which in turn leads to a more defined future.

Freshmen straight from high school are bombarded with totally new ideas regarding school and life. Transfer students, while being accustomed to college life, find themselves in a new environment in which they must adapt. But in many freshmen and transfer students alike, there is an apparent need to conform to this new environment and be like everyone else. Granted, this need to fit in is often not as predominant as it is in high school where peer pressure and puberty-fueled confusion are at their strongest, but the need to fit in is still very much alive.

As a freshman, do not look to understand the whole process of college as quickly as possible. It should be a gradual process that will happen over the course of your four years in college. Sure, we all think, ‘If only I knew that when I was a freshman,’ but those lessons can’t be learned overnight or by reading a column like this, so learn to accept that inevitability. Take time to carefully absorb all the new information you’ve taken in so far. Also, being a part of extracurricular activities is not only a good way to have fun, but these activities help round out our college experience, giving us something else to work for and look forward to besides class.

This is also the part of life where we identify who we are. Not who we are when our friends are around, but the very essence of our identities. Take pride in individuality and don’t rely on others for happiness. Despite the myriad of new people to meet, college is a great time to realize happiness comes from within. Remember that friends are a good addition to life, but it is equally important that we realize they are a very fine inclusion to life and not a necessity.

Also, don’t ever assume that everything should turn out like we want it to. It’s the formative part of our lives and it’s perfectly okay to make mistakes. Take them as lessons and move on. Moreover, remember that it’s okay to have fun, but be cautious when doing so and make sure you don’t make regrettable decisions even though college is probably one of the best times to make those mistakes.

College is and should be a fun and exciting experience for everyone, but our involvement in the whole process is equally as important as the process itself.