10 “You Got This!” with Alex
You do not have to go out every weekend. I had the idea that going into college would completely change me as a person and I would become extroverted and want to go to parties all the time. I did not change that drastically. Yes, college can be a fresh start for people but when I found myself over-socialized and overwhelmed at the end of the day, I felt exhausted and at my limit. The first few weekends of college I stayed in my dorm and just worried that I should be out doing something meeting new people. It was awful; I realized that I don’t have to be out and about all the time. I can go at my own pace, and I shouldn’t feel guilty about taking the time to adjust myself to a new place and get comfortable before branching out.
Best advice for making friends or getting connected–I suggest going to events, literally any events, with a buddy. I was lucky enough to know my roommate beforehand, so she and I literally went to everything. You might get there and hate it, but that’s ok! At least you went out and tried it. Having someone you know and are familiar with helped me feel a lot less overwhelmed when introducing myself to new people. Get to know the people on your floor! Honestly, I don’t have many friends on my floor, however I have many acquaintances. Just by introducing myself to the others that live close to me I felt moreconnected. On a campus this large, it’s nice to have someone familiar you can wave to or smile at; it makes campus feel a lot smaller.
Here are a few of my favorite spots around campus: Ami’s (really good Asian food restaurant), IMU (great for snacks and studying), and Noodles n Company (my favorite restaurant).
Not sure what you are majoring in? Here’s my perspective on it–thankfully you’ve enrolled in a great class to help you with this! I had no clue what I wanted to do at all when I started and I’m leaving the class with two possible majors in mind. I really think that all the tests you take about yourself really help you realize what will help you decide what you want to do with your life, and what you like but won’t fit with your lifestyle. When I first went into this class, I was thinking about becoming a vet or some kind of environmental scientist. After taking multiple tests, and having these tests tell me that I’m an artistic person, I realized I would most likely not be happy in such a science heavy field. I also discovered the many different career and major options through this class. It didn’t even occur to me that what I was interested in could be a possible job for me in the future.
Final words, if you push through those first few weeks, it gets a lot better. Find some study buddies and places you like to visit. Look for the little positives throughout your day if your day isn’t going the best. You got this!
Name: Alex Miller Reusze
Hometown: Fishers, IN
Grad Date: 2027
Current Major: Deciding between Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management (School of Public Health) or Media Science (College of Arts & Sciences)