It’s been a few weeks since school has started. The exciting last days of summer have now faded into papers, midterms, and late-night studying binges. But despite having lived at your new home for a few weeks, you still feel out of place. You don’t have friends to sit with during lunch, but everyone else looks like they’re so comfortable. You ask yourself, “Is there something wrong with me?”
You’re not alone. Transitioning to a new environment takes time. It could be weeks or even months before you fully acclimate and thrive. And that’s okay. Knowing that change goes at differing paces for people, here are some practical tips for the students who are treading water at their new schools.
1. Find a Church Community
If you move away for college, you will probably also be moving away from your home church. While finding a new church can be difficult to navigate, it is extremely important to maintain your spiritual health by joining a local church. Not only will being part of a church be helpful for your spiritual growth, but you will also find a community for personal support and lifelong friendships.
Don’t let the excuse of classes get in your way. It becomes easy to simply push off going to church because of schoolwork or your new social life on campus, but it is equally important, if not more, to invest in your relationship with God.
Going on a journey to find a new church for your college years can be stressful and overwhelming. A good way to combat these feelings is to visit churches with people you know. This will minimize the awkwardness of being the new person in an unfamiliar church and allow you to make more connections.
2. Get Involved!
From day one, you will be looking for people who will be your best friends for the next four years or longer! The easiest way to do so is by getting involved with an organization on campus that aligns with your interests and values. Even if Welcome Week has passed, there’s still plenty of time to get plugged into a group.
First, look for campus organizations that are Christian fellowships. Find one that seems like a warm, supportive community that also pushes you out of your comfort zone. For example, if you are more on the introverted side, try finding a club or organization that encourages you to come out of your shell. If you are more extroverted, find a place where you can slow down and build meaningful relationships, not just lots of acquaintances.
But don’t just join Christian clubs. Sign up for secular clubs too! Build relationships with those who are not in your immediate Christian circle. God calls us to secular campuses in order for us to minister to and build relationships with those who are lost.
The one caution regarding joining clubs is to have discernment. Many secular organizations (and even some Christian ones!) can lead to temptation, so it is wise to discern whether God is calling you to this group for His reason or a worldly reason.
3. Utilize Campus Resources
Whether you are on a Christian campus or a secular campus, all colleges have resources like counseling and health centers for you to use. These tools will help you cope with whatever is stressing you, whether that be mental or physical ailments.
Additionally, these resources are often included in your tuition costs or are substantially cheaper than professional off-campus facilities, so use them to your advantage. Many college students can attest to the massive amounts of money you will have to spend in college, so utilize the many college resources you can while you are still in school.
4. Call Home Often
Being away from home can be difficult on its own, even without the new school environment. Rather than coming home to a clean house and a family meal, you come home to dirty laundry and chip crumbs on your desk. This transition can lead to feelings of homesickness and isolation. One way of curing this is to call home often. Whether it is a phone call or a FaceTime, calling your family is both helpful for you and reassuring to your parents.
One hard part of this is scheduling, as your days are already filled to the brim with events and homework. The best way to combat this is to commit to a weekly or monthly calls as a family. Schedule a day and time to call in order to touch base and feel their love and presence.
5. Time Management: A Time for Work, A Time for Play
College can be stressful and hectic when trying to balance academic, social, and spiritual life. On top of all three of these aspects, many students decide to serve in some capacity at a Christian ministry or a church, which can become overwhelming. The best advice for this is to plan out your days ahead of time.
Schedule in time to study, hang out with friends, and time to rest. Preplanned scheduling will help to balance all the aspects of your life without stressing about procrastinating. This is a learned skill that will not only help you graduate on time but will also help you thrive in your working life in the future.
College is a time to explore opportunities as well as make and learn from mistakes. It can seem overwhelming, but continue to push through by relying on family, your friends, and your church community. With these tips, transitioning to college life will be much easier.
But most importantly, remember while traveling down the path of higher education to rely on God. Even though you move far away or feel lost, God is the ever-present comfort who will walk with you through your college years.