How To Be Independent In College
Hi guys and welcome back! Independence is very scary and is something that as much as you think you are ready for it, you really aren’t. All my life I was a very independent person. I started doing my own laundry when I was 10 years old, once I could drive I did pretty much everything myself when it came to things like doctor appointments, running errands, etc. I got a job when I was 15 and have been making my own money since. It was never easy but this is something that my parents have always had really strong beliefs on. Although they are the most supportive and dependent parents ever they wanted me to learn how to be very independent at a young age and I am so extremely grateful for that because it made going away for college that much easier. When I moved to Whitewater (which isn’t far from my hometown) I was so excited but there were a lot of things I didn’t know how to do without my parents. I also missed them so much because I am such a family girl. But, that never stopped me. I love to learn how to do new things and do things for myself. That first year was so hard and I’m not going to lie. I came home a lot but I still enjoyed the freedom. I am glad I went to college somewhere close because it really is one of my biggest dreams to move out of the state to New York and I feel like this was a good preparation for me. But, I would like to give some quick tips for some people who struggle with being away from home and independence.
- Stay in contact with those you are close with; this will help you feel a little more at home. Stay updated with things that are going on at home and make an effort to keep in contact, make them know you still care about them. FaceTime is my best friend. I FaceTime my family 2-3 times a week.
- Make good friends; this one was honestly really easy for me since my freshman roommate was best friend in high school. Also, I am from a town by Milwaukee where a lot of people from my high school went to school. So, I will honestly say most of my friends are from my hometown but, disregarding all hate on staying friends with you high school friends I believe if you love them it is totally worth it. They really made my college experience really comfortable and I always had people to rely on.
- Don’t be afraid to do things out of your comfort zone; I know personally I didn’t make friends out of my comfort zone but, I did other activities out of my comfort zone. I made myself try new things and learn a lot of new stuff and that made me feel accomplished in a lot of aspects of my life.
- It is okay to be sad and miss home; don’t forget it is a big step to move away from home. It is a new chapter and it can be very scary. It is okay to miss home and want to go back into old habits. Sometimes, that is okay to do. You don’t have to be perfect, you can cry and struggle. This is how we grow. Failure is what makes us stronger and it is a huge part of everyone’s life.
- Everyone is going through the same thing; It is always easy to doubt and self pity yourself. It is a part of being human but, literally everyone has these same feelings and doubts. Talk to your friends about how you are feeling and let out some emotions, it is okay. Just remember we all go through it and it is a part of growing up!
Also, this is the playlist I am talking about in my weekly shoutout if you want to check it out (:
Weekly Shoutout; My favorite Spotify playlist at the moment; oat milk lattes in the mountains. Music is a huge part of my life and is something that helps me get through doing a lot of homework and hard times in my life. This playlist is one I listen to when I’m doing homework. It is super relaxing and helps me focus while enjoying the music playing in the background. Thank you Kasey Gelsomino for this awesome playlist.
5 Comments
Madison Sabel
Independence is huge in college. It’s important to find your way and gain indepence to have a good college experience. I’m impressed you’ve always been independent! This is something I have always had a hard time with. Also, LOVE the playlist!! I started listening to it and its amazing!
Brooke Bescup
Hi Lissie! It’s funny that you wrote about this because I was just having a conversation with my friend about this this past week. I think independence is the biggest thing you either learn or don’t learn in college. I know that this is something that was hard to adjust to; however, once I figured it out I now love my independent life. However, a lot of people struggle with it, I even have friends who go home every weekend because they struggle being independent. I honestly agree with all of your tips that you gave, those were the things that helped me the most in becoming an independent person in college! Great blog post!
Mike Marron
Independence is something we all learn inj college and how to live on our own. Once you graudate you have to take what you learned in college and apply it to the outside world. It can be very scary but hopefully everyone will get the hang of it.
Savannah Bertram
Hi Lissie!
It has always been my dream to move to New York too! Or Boston, it’s like NYC but the architecture is prettier and the sky is bluer.
These tips are great! Back during my freshman year of college, I used to read blogs like this or watch YouTube videos like this to help grow myself. You’re a great motivator!
See you next week!
Adeline Edwards
Hi Lissie! I agree with you that independence is so important when moving to college. I always thought I was independent and then I moved to school. I am five hours away from my family so it’s not too far but it’s also not a distance I can go every week or whatever which is hard for me because I am really close to my family as well. When I first moved to school almost four years ago, I was so nervous and I had to call my mom everyday for something or another. The longer that you have to figure things out yourself though, the easier it is to grow up and learn things without your parents. I am so thankful for college providing me a crash course in adulting and for now being so much stronger as I prepare to graduate. Great post!