Going to college is a huge step and a life-changing experience for everyone. For me, that change is even more amplified because my high school experience doesn’t exactly translate into the high-energy environment of ABAC.
In high school, I never joined any clubs or sports; I just went to class. I never had any interest in the clubs they offered in school, and sports didn’t appeal to me, so my high school life was very uneventful.
While some might think it was boring, I felt content throughout high school. I made wonderful friends and was fortunate to have fantastic teachers. I grew to love my British literature teacher, who would always make sure to make the class very enjoyable when it could have easily been much harder, given how broad the subject is.
I recall one time I was struggling with a group project, and, although I was incredibly nervous, I decided to let her know I was struggling. Rather than being mad, she was understanding and valued the actual work and project over a grade.
When I put on my graduation gown, it dawned on me that I truly was moving forward with my life. As I walked across the stage and accepted my diploma, I looked at the crowd and saw all my friends and their younger siblings who I had spent years getting to know.
Then, almost overnight, I was at ABAC orientation, wondering if they felt the same way during my graduation as I did whenever I first sat in an official college room.
I was very nervous. I didn’t know what to expect, and I didn’t know anyone. While I was surrounded by people who were unfamiliar, I felt completely alone.
The newness of everything around me was soon disrupted when I soon saw one of my friends. We tried to stick together through the rest of orientation, and her presence brought both a sense of relief and reassurance.
We walked into a hall that had an interior that was covered in bricks, with dim lighting. Shortly after we entered, the dean split us into groups. Not only was I now separated from my friend, but they were sent to a completely separate room, leaving me alone again.
Now I was faced with a decision to either remain alone or face the unknown of other people, and it grew stronger as we explored what I now know as Bowen Hall.
A creeping feeling of nervousness began to overwhelm me before suddenly being interrupted by a young professor, who introduced himself to our group. It became clear immediately that he was one of the “chill” professors. He joked with us and gave us words of comfort, reassuring us that we would be fine in college. This reassurance gave me the same sense of relief that my friend gave me when I saw her.
The professor’s reassurance reminded me of my high school teacher, who gave me a sense of comfort whenever I was struggling in her class. I saw teachers like her as I walked through Bowen Hall, and even as I walked across the non-academic parts of campus.
Knowing there are similar people at ABAC to the ones who made an impact on my high school career gives me more confidence. While this is a new environment with new people, I see glimpses of the familiarity of high school reflected everywhere.
Even though the next few years may be full of change, that change may be more familiar than I thought.