Scared

[California Dreamin']

I just want to tell you what happened to me.

I went to university, 3 hours from home, September 2004 and just returned in late April. I had no close friends at the university, I just did not fit in... so I met people who lived in that city.

I ended up going to a psychiatrist and apparently this is a common trend with university students-especially 1st year- and got on 2 different medications in October. When I came home in December, I found out I did NOT have what they said I did. Stopped the medications in February and went through a severe withdrawal and failed really, really, really bad second semester. I was asked to take a year off, but I don't plan on going back there. I'm going to stay home and go to community college here, they offer a more specialized course for what I want anyway.

My school did not have a counsellor. If yours does, use the service. You will have times you will want to talk to someone. I thought leaving home would be great!!! I also kept a journal. Counsellors are fine, they don't put you on medication but you get to talk about everything.

Keep busy...

 

[Battie]

Hi PuppyForChrist. I understand your fears. I was completely terrified about starting college. I'm a very shy person, my social skills are not too good, and I am very close to my family. The thought of being away from them scared me.

I think my first week of college was one of the worst in my life. It was awful to see my parents leaving and I hated the thought of never feeling at home. I'm not saying this to scare you, but to show you that even someone as freaked out as I was can do fine.

I wanted so badly just to go home during those first couple weeks. I didn't consider that a real option though, so I stuck it out. Once classes started and I began to get used to things, I didn't feel quite so homesick. I made friends. While I was very stressed out, especially spring semester, I learned how to study properly so that I could get the same good grades without actually killing myself doing it.

I just finished my second year, and it was really good. It wasn't always easy, but I didn't have a hard time at all moving back to school, and I've made some very dear friends that I'm missing a lot now that I'm home.

I still like coming back home, but I don't feel awful about leaving it again. You also might want to know that it feels pretty weird to come home during your first break at school. But soon you'll get used to that too, and you'll feel like you belong in both places.

I hope you don't have as rough a start as I did, but whatever happens you can stick it through as long as you tell yourself it will be okay.

Have fun shopping for dorm stuff (that's the best part)!

 

[faithgirl]

I am also as scared as you. Not trying to scare you more, eitherI get very homesick even at 1 week camps. I love my parents, my dogs, my bed, I love home. I am also shy but I do consider myself friendly and nice. I am afraid I am going to let people walk all over me because of my shell around me. I am going to a small Christian college. I will not know one person. I remember taking my brother off to college for the first time and it was so sad. My biggest fear is my parents leaving the first day! I will have to go to the orientations all by myself. Scary stuff! I just have to keep a positive outlook. ETA: I am not leaving for 2 years so I have plenty of time to build positivity. I worry a lot as you can tell.. haha