When in College, Do as the Upperclassmen Do
JANET GUAN
Copy Editor
After the college acceptances, rejections and changes of path, most high school graduates will begin to prepare for their first steps of adulthood. Many will begin to pack their belongings as they get ready to move from what they have called home. Bringing the basic necessities, like clothing, should be quite easy, but common comforts may take time to develop.
For one, going to college will throw students into a new environment. College campuses occupy more land estate and hold more people. The transition from middle school to high school can hardly compare; high schools bring together teenagers from relatively close vicinities, so community-related events are relevant to most adolescents. Colleges can bring students in contact with peers from different cities, states and even countries. Meeting new people means encountering unfamiliar ways of thinking, personalities and habits. Disagreements can arise when stubborn people with distinct ideas clash. As a result, not everyone from college will be welcoming.
College students may long for the comfort of their hometown that their temporary four-year residence may not provide. AHS is conveniently located near helpful resources, like the Alhambra Civic Center Library, and an array of different restaurants and establishments to hang out with friends. Although colleges are their own community, they may not have the same cuisines or businesses that students grew up with. Most of all, AHS students living away will long for simple home-cooked meals or close gathering, with family that used to be in such close proximity.
Homesickness will definitely hit hard, but there are ways to manage. Cooking can be a way to ease the pining for home-cooked meals. Though the flavor may not be up to par, cooking can both ease nostalgia and encourage eating at home, killing two birds with one stone. Students living away from home should take into account their own habits and personality as well. Roommates’ consistency in being responsible will greatly affect home life, so choose roommates and living quarters wisely. Above all, be open-minded. Not everything in college will match expectations, so instead of being disappointed in the quality of certain cuisines or the absence of a type of recreation, take the opportunity to find a new favorite dish or pastime. Be non-judgemental towards people; the individuals undergraduates meet will reshape each other into different people.
College will be a unique experience. For the first time, many students will take care of themselves wholly without parental supervision or aid. Difficulties will arise; society will begin to expect more out of young adults. However, college should provide the microcosmic environment and the needed obstacles to prepare young adults for their futures.