By Adrienne Reese

Having moved and changed schools about 13 times before graduating high school, I thought that starting at college would be a breeze. After all, I had transitioned so many times successfully, what could be different this time? I graduated from a small, private high school in California where I had become very comfortable. I was on student council, had participated in several sports teams, played clarinet in the band and had made some great friends. I was accepted to the University of California, Santa Barbara and was ready to conquer it. As college neared, I remember feeling very excited by the idea of studying the things I was truly interested in, and meeting other people with similar interests. I couldn’t wait. I didn’t really think very much about what the dorms would be like, or how I might get a long with my roommate. I was completely captivated by the idea of studying archaeology, and that’s all I thought about.

On move-in day, I was unprepared for the social aspect of the dorms. I felt anxious about making friends with my roommates and neighbors, and had no interest in learning about the upcoming parties, sorority rushes, or drinking get-togethers within the building. Looking back, I think I was almost elitist about it. I thought I had more important things to think about: classes. And they were important, but making friends is also essential to getting by at a big university. Luckily, my roommates were persistent and the five of us that shared the dorm suite became fast friends. In fact, five years after graduating college, we still get together every year to rehash memories and catch up on each other’s lives.

The first year at college was both disappointing and exciting. Socially, I had a hard time with the “party-school” reputation that UCSB had and the fact that it lived up to it! I was focused on school and found it frustrating that other students showed up to class in their pajamas or found surfing to be more important that study groups. After a couple of months, I even considered transferring to another school. I’m so glad that I didn’t! It just took some time for me to figure out that on a campus filled with so many different types of people, all you have to do is make a little effort and in time, you will find your niche. I ended up making a lot of different friends, whether it was from work, class or elsewhere. Finding people who share your interests is easier than you may think. Just look around. There are clubs, organizations, social events and employment opportunities all over the place on college campuses, and they’re definitely not just for nerds! Participating in the right ones can end up leading to the fulfilling experience that you seek, no matter what that may be.

By the fourth year at UCSB, I was as comfortable as I was my last year of high school. It took me quite a while to learn how to balance academics with social activities, but once I did my college experience became much more gratifying. As simple as it sounds, I think that balance is one of the most critical aspects to both success and enjoyment at college.

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