It’s the End of my First Semester in College. How is it Going?

For background, I am a freshman at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. I have just completed my first semester in college. Here is what I have learned and what I wish I knew going into it.

Put yourself out there

College at first can be a very isolating experience. You are a stranger in a strange new world. I did not go to the same college as any of my friends from home. So, I needed to find a new group. Lucky for me, I decided to do something called Camp Kelley. It was a 4 day “summer camp” where about 30 of us all went away to a YMCA summer camp in northern Indiana. It was horrible. The living arrangements sucked, the food sucked, and the water sucked. Yet, I had an amazing time bonding with people and formed my first friend group in college. When we arrived at campus after Camp, we all mostly went our separate ways, but I do keep in touch with some of the friends I made there.

Business Fraternities/Greek Life

The second thing I did to put myself out there was rush a business fraternity. I have always been on the fence about rushing a fraternity. I did not know if I would fit in that social setting. However, I found an alternative. One night, I was sitting around a fire at someone’s house party. I was chatting with a couple of guys I did not know and told them about myself. I told them I was a student entrepreneur looking to find a group on campus, but not sure if I wanted to rush a fraternity. One of the guys recommended I check out something called a business fraternity, specifically an entrepreneurship-focused one. A business fraternity is a co-ed organization that has the primary purpose of helping its members gain real-world experience and connections in business, along with creating a tight-knit social group. That sounded pretty good to me, and I rushed Epsilon Nu Tau (ENT) at Indiana University. The guy who recommended that I rush ENT was a part of my pledge class and is now my fraternity brother.

Find organizations that share your interests

Clubs are a great way of getting involved on campus. I am active in the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization at Indiana University (CEO@IU). There, I have met some great student entrepreneurs and got involved in initiatives such as IU Innovates that will change and bolster the resources for student entrepreneurs at Indiana University. The thing I love most about CEO@IU and all the entrepreneurship communities at Indiana University is how collaborative people are and how willing they are to help. When I was in the early stages of founding my better-for-you energy drink Natural Power, I did not have a community where I could collaborate and bounce ideas off of others. I was concerned that this entrepreneurial solitude would continue in college. It has been the complete opposite. I am truly grateful for this community of wonderful people who share similar passions as me for entrepreneurship, collaboration, and learning.

Managing stress and taking time for yourself

College can be stressful occasionally. I have encountered stress and anxiety during my first semester many times. The first thing I would like to say to anyone who is feeling stressed at college is it’s going to be okay. An old Persian adage that I really like is, “this too shall pass.” Whatever is going on, whatever exam you have coming up will pass, and you will come out on the other side. It is important in college to take time for yourself. For me, that means going to the gym or reading a book. It is very important to find the things you enjoy doing for yourself and find time to do them.

It’s okay to not be okay

I have a dog back at home. He is a mini goldendoodle. One of the things I love about him most is that no matter how my day has been going, he is always excited to see me when I get home. I don’t have that at college anymore. When I come home after a rough day, there is only an empty dorm room to greet me. You are not going to feel great every single day of college, and that’s okay. The important thing to remember is that feeling is not going to last forever, and there are many support systems in place at universities to help you through it.

Talk to your Professors

One of the tidbits of advice I received before going to college was to go to Professors’ office hours. The one question I have always had in my mind when I hear this advice is what if I don’t have any questions about the class or material? Chances are that your Professors will come from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. Before I take a class, I like to read the bio that Indiana University publishes for its Professors. You can learn a lot about your Professors and find things in common to talk to them about. You never know when you might need a Professor to write you a letter of recommendation or find that you have a genuine interest in the field of study. Getting to know your Professors on a more personal level will not only greatly contribute to your academic experience, but also help discover which path you want to take in school and beyond. I have always found my Professors incredibly helpful and insightful from talking to them. I have found that most Professors have a genuine interest in helping their students and want to get to know you.

I sincerely hope I have been able to provide some information and advice based on my own experiences from this past semester. Whether you are already in college or about to start that journey next year, you are going to do have a wonderful time and do great things. Good luck!