Four years ago, I prepared to graduate from high school and nervously awaited the next chapter of my life: College.
In high school, I was an average student with my grades being a random mix of A’s, B’s, C’s and even an F in a digital photography course (which is now ironically the field I am going into). I struggled in the classroom and wondered if college would be the right fit, as I was not as academically skilled as my peers.
I was a nervous wreck coming to Keene State College in the fall of 2021. My father told me in the car that I would “make my closest friends in college.” As someone who already had amazing friends from my hometown, I did not believe him. I was scared to start a life that I felt would be too unknown or too unpredictable for me to handle.
After move-in, I was left with a roommate I did not know. As an only child, I never had to share a room with anyone and was self-conscious of even my littlest habits. Luckily, my first-year roommate became one of my closest friends. She gave me the feeling of comfort that I was craving away from my house back in Massachusetts.
One of the craziest things about college is that it brings together people from all different backgrounds and places. I met students from Nepal, Peru, Mexico, England, Uruguay and various other countries while at Keene State. To meet all these people and learn more about their cultures, I had to be open-minded and let my curiosity overcome my anxiety. In general, there is at least one person on campus whom you are bound to connect with. Meeting new friends will never replace the good ones you have at home, they will just add to your support system.
During my time at Keene State, I was an Orientation Leader and helped incoming students acclimate to college life. I have witnessed and also experienced firsthand how scary the transition to college can be. The truth is, there is no perfect way to live your college experience.
However, a good place to start is learning how to say yes. If you are used to saying no to new opportunities, it is time to start taking chances. I owe a lot of my college experience to The Equinox and other clubs I decided to get involved with, and in return, I was able to make goals and connections. College is the time to do something for yourself and to make yourself proud. Not everyone gets the opportunity to further their education, and it takes a lot of strength to leave home.
Another important thing to remember is your resources. In high school, I struggled with anxiety and depression, which hindered my ability to succeed academically. I was terrified of asking for help, but I had to get over that fear when I got to college, or I would fall back into the same old cycle. I went from average student to Dean’s List almost every semester because I gave myself the chance to. On campus, there are various academic and mental health resources to help guide you along the way. I have never felt academically supported until I got to Keene State and met professors who understood what it was like to not be academically confident.
Lastly, it is important to be self-aware of how your actions affect others. You will be sharing space with people you do not know well, and it is important to consider other people’s feelings. When you are not self-aware, you are also often unsafe, so it is important to make choices that are beneficial for you and others around you. If someone proves themselves not to be a kind friend, I suggest finding someone who will give you the connection you need. Personally, I wish I had not let my failed friendships affect me as much as they did, as I could have spent that time focusing on the friends who support me more.
Approaching the final week of my college career, I hope someone reads this and knows it is valid to be scared while transitioning to college, but realizes that sometimes things have to change; that is how we grow.
Nicole Dumont can be contacted at
