The Independent Student Newspaper of St. John's University

The Torch

The Independent Student Newspaper of St. John's University

The Torch

The Independent Student Newspaper of St. John's University

The Torch

Gaining Perspective

College is different from anything else in life. But for most college bound students, that’s a good thing.

High school provided four years of strict rules, bells and, for many, torture. The summer in-between graduation and freshman year of college was filled with excitement of the upcoming school year. Everything was pointing toward a new beginning.

That new beginning is only a couple of months away for those who are about to start their freshman year. Welcome to St. John’s University.

The first year of college can be a great experience if you make it that way. When I came to St. John’s, I didn’t know what to expect. It was six hours away from my home and six hours away from anyone I knew. Although it was difficult to adjust to, I don’t regret my choice for a second.

Chances are that nothing you’ve heard about college can fully prepare you (or compare) to the actual experience you’ll have. With any luck, it will exceed all expectations. It won’t be great unless you do your part to help it become so.

College truly is an amazing thing. It’s also something that might be hard to comprehend if you haven’t experienced it first hand. Each day the door is open for something new and remarkable to occur.

St. John’s is full of opportunities that, if taken advantage of, can help to create a better college life. These opportunities may present themselves in the form of trips, workshops or activities. If you take these and get involved, chances are that your year will be better than one had by the person who chooses to sit in their room watching television.

It’s no secret that there are quite a few people on campus (an obvious understatement). I recommend getting to know as many of these people as possible. There are great friends just waiting for you to find them.

By the end of the year, there will be those who can’t stop talking about how much they hate St. John’s, how they can’t wait to leave, and how they probably won’t be coming back. These are most likely the people who didn’t meet anyone and didn’t do anything. Don’t waste your year by having this fit your story. Hopefully, at the end of your first year, you’ll only hold excitement for your second year.

Just take the time to enjoy your first year of college because it will go by quickly. One minute you’re saying goodbye to your parents on move-in day, and the next you’re saying goodbye to your friends for the summer.

My advice – make it worthwhile.

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