Going from high school to college can be overwhelming. Trying to figure out how to be an adult is something you’re thrown into in the midst of classes, social life and extracurriculars. According to an article by the University of Minnesota, the first six weeks are a critical period in determining student success.
As a first-year student at Point Loma Nazarene University, I can confirm that this is true and that I’m still establishing my new routine. Being away from my family and support system, I was worried about what to make of this new setting. But PLNU helped make the transition a little easier.
Welcome Week helped to lay the foundation for what life here at school will be like, and I learned a lot in just those few days. Attending events with other freshmen was encouraging, reminding me we’re all in the same boat. Meeting many new people at once was overwhelming, but it also helped me build connections.
Since I didn’t know anyone when I first arrived, I felt pressure to make friends quickly because I didn’t want to fall behind in meeting everyone, especially those in my dorm hall. What started as a challenge became a great opportunity, as Welcome Week events like Lomaland — a carnival hosted by PLNU’s Associated Student Body — allowed me to branch out and connect with people across campus. Getting to know other students on a deeper level allowed me to appreciate those around me. Learning about the backgrounds of where other students came from opened my eyes, and I realized these are the stories that make up the body of our community.
Liam Reitsma, a first-year media communication major and Minnesota native, has also needed to figure out his new routine as a student here at PLNU.
“Never going home makes you always be in a social mindset, and it blends together a lot, trying to figure out how to balance work along with social life because it’s all in the same place,” Reitsma said. “Compared to high school, you drive to school and to see your friends, so finding that blended spot is difficult to navigate.”
Without the use of cars as first-years, things get complicated when you need to get from one place to another quickly. Walking everywhere can get exhausting, and taking the off-campus shuttle isn’t the most efficient mode of transportation.
I took the shuttle to Target recently with some friends, and it was inconvenient when the time came to leave. By then, the shuttle had stopped at the mall, which was 30 minutes away, so we got an Uber to take us back to campus.
I’ve learned that building relationships with students who have cars is beneficial. One of my Alpha leaders, Cody Smith, a second-year health science major, has given me rides to church on Sundays, which has already improved my college experience. Feeling nervous and excited at the beginning of college is expected, but with the help of those around you, it’s a lot easier to manage.
Linda Beail, PLNU professor of political science, said that the transition from high school to college was also difficult for her.
“It was very disorienting,” Beail said. “It was a little bit lonely, and I was just trying to figure out, sort of like, how do I fit in here? And who are my friends going to be?”
It took Beail a couple of weeks to find her rhythm in a college environment, but it wasn’t until her second semester that she felt fully comfortable with how things were going, she said.
As someone who’s already gone through college, Beail shared some words of wisdom for what she would have told her freshman self if she could go back in time:
“A lot of people are trying to figure it out, and that also means that a lot of people are looking for friends and connections,” Beail said. “Don’t be afraid; don’t feel like nobody wants to talk to you. You just need to talk to them and include them because they will be happy that you did.”
PLNU is focused on Christian values as well as academics, which creates opportunities for my faith to grow. Ministries on campus are a great way to serve, and ultimately, growing a deeper connection with the Lord is what this school takes pride in.
Grace Park, a first-year biology major from Colorado, said she is trying to grow in her relationship with God now that she’s at PLNU.
“Chapel multiple times a week is phenomenal, but my favorite thing from this last week was the prayer chapel,” Park said. “I was just able to sit there and have some time alone with God and see all the other prayers that are in there.”
Having a firm foundation in Christ is what makes this community so special, and being able to feel supported by those around me has been uplifting.
We all start as freshmen in the beginning, but the only way to go is up, with a lot of growth still to come. No one is alone in their journey, and even if it may feel that way, PLNU has a great community to surround yourself with.
Tessa Balc 
Charis Johnston