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Jessica Ho
The College of New Jersey
NSHSS Student Council and National Scholar Award Recipient
It was the night before Move-In Day, and I was petrified. I was a little scared about missing my family, but I went to an in-state school, so I knew I could come home whenever I wanted. I was worried about classes, but I already knew that I would have to work harder. The real reason why I was petrified was because I didn't know how I was going to make new friends. In high school, it had taken time to build my close circle of friends; how was I just going to pick up and find new ones immediately? What if I couldn't find anyone who shared the same interests as me? What if people could read me and immediately exclude me from their clique? What if my roommate didn't want to talk to me?
It would be easy to say that I made friends as soon as I stepped onto campus, but I will admit that it takes time to build relationships. However, what I did realize was that college is not like high school; preset cliques do not exist. During the first few weeks, everyone was in the same position as I was; they all were looking for new friends. This was the best time to reach out and make new connections. People on campus did not know anything about my past or my weaknesses, so I knew that they could only make judgments of me based on the impression that I gave. I was no longer labeled as the "smart girl that all the teachers like," but as a fun and intelligent individual. Sure, I had to say hello and sometimes take the first step, but people were not anything close to as intimidating as I thought they would be.
Finally, I found that it was virtually impossible to not find anyone with some similar interests to mine. At my college, the student body is four times larger than that of my high school, which meant that there are many more chances to find someone that I can connect with. More importantly, I've learned that the quirks in my personality are what set me apart from others so that I have something to contribute in my clubs and among my friends.
I am now in the middle of my sophomore year, and I am still meeting new people. One of the best things about college is just hanging out with my friends. Once I realized that people at college are more welcoming than cliques in high school, it was easier for me to reach out and introduce myself to others. So, if you are nervous about how you will fit in at college, just remember that everyone is in the same position as you in the beginning of the school year, so don't be afraid to just say hi!