It Will All Turn Out by Rachel

It Will All Turn Out by Rachel - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

There are many responsibilities that come along with going to college. You're a new adult, with a new life, new faces, new responsibilities, new concerns, and new problems. You're thrown into a new way of life, with what feels like no true support. College is indeed hard, but worth it.

I have learned many things while finishing up my first year of college at Utah State University.(Go Aggies!)I have learned a lot about myself academically, socially, mentally, physically, and about many other aspects of life.

I have always been pretty well academically and mentally. I had a 3.8 GPA in high school and was a good student. While I was able to continue that GPA here at college, I learned that classes here were taught a lot different than high school. In high school, it was a lot of assignments and projects. In college, however, it's mostly consisted of lectures and tests. This was hard for me, because I relied a lot on assignments to help my GPA. It was a very hard transition. Something I would recommend, to people who are similar to me, is to just expect it. Expect that it is going to mostly be based on tests and plan for it. That way you aren't in as much shock and worry as I was.

Growing up, I have always been rather shy. I'm not too shy, I do like to talk to people and be with people, but not knowing anyone at all really brought it out of me. I lived in the typical college dorm, with a stranger just 6 feet away. This was pretty weird and hard for me in the beginning. As time went on, we became really close. It's almost out of your control, you will become close with your roommates. I haven't made many friends this first year of college. I have a few friends and that is it. I looked at my range of friends and felt like a social failure. My recommendation is, first, understand that you will make at least one friend. My roommate and I love to look back at what we call our "awkward stage" and laugh. I think it is crazy that we haven't known each other for that long because we are so close. Although these "awkward stages" may be longer than others, you will eventually get out of it. My second recommendation is understand that having a big group of friends might not happen your first year. You will meet many people, but become friends with just a few. I'm not saying that you can't be friends with many people, because I am sure it does happen; but my experience has not been like this. Which is not what I expected. Just love yourself and be yourself and everything will fall into place.

I mostly struggled academically, mentally, and socially. If I were to offer an overall piece of advice to those preparing to come to college it would be, it will all turn out. I worried about this and that, deadlines, friends, responsibilities and many other things. While these things are very important, and do need attention, don't stress too much. Have confidence in yourself, and know that what you are doing is for the best. Be your best self and enjoy it. Enjoy the experiences, both good and bad. Again, there is so much to learn at college. Take a deep breath, and soak it all in. It will all turn out.