Moving away from home and off to college is an exciting time. For many, this will be their first time living on their own or with roommates, which comes with a great deal of freedom and independence. However, the appeal can quickly wear off when students realize that transitioning to residential life isn’t always as easy as they expected.
During the process of settling in, grades and social lives can take a negative impact. Everyone adapts differently, but you can prepare yourself and make the change in lifestyle easier.
Homesickness
It might seem like this wouldn’t be a problem, especially with grand ideas of independence in mind, but leaving your home will come with at least a tinge of homesickness whether you move to the worst dorm possible or to the Renoir House luxury apartments. Students will find themselves missing a family pet, friends back home, and their family members.
This is entirely normal, but can cause you to lose focus on your schoolwork and isolate yourself from the rich social life. Maybe you’ve found yourself calling home more often than normal, reminiscing about high school on a regular basis, or finding every excuse in the book to come back home. Whatever way your homesickness manifests, there are some things you can do to make your new dwelling feel like a real home.
For starters, get involved in the college community. There’s bound to be a club or group that shares the same interests you do, giving you the perfect opportunity to make new friends while having fun in the process.
Off campus apartments, like the Waypoint, offer plenty of amenities that more than make up for the distance between you and school clubs. The Waypointe is more than an apartment, it’s a destination. Take advantage of the community around you.
Second, decorate your room or your apartments for rent in tampa fl. Make it your own by giving it some personal touches, which will help you settle in that much faster. Hang a few posters, set your favorite knick-knacks on a tabletop, and create a little feng shui with plants or lights.
Dealing With Roommates
Sharing a room or an apartment with someone or a few people your own age sounds awesome at first, however, conflicts are bound to arise eventually. No two people share the exact same habits, and sharing a smaller space can be difficult at times. However, this is a crucial part of residential living.
It’s important to keep open and friendly communication with your roommates so you can discuss smaller issues when they arise instead of allowing them to boil into a larger problem. Maybe you can’t stand dirty dishes sitting on a nightstand, piled clothes on the floor, or need an ample amount of time to yourself instead of constant interaction. Talk about it!
Academics And Freedom
College is far more demanding than high school, and the freedom that comes with residential living means you and you alone are in charge of your time. It’s up to you to stay on top of your assignments, get to class on time, find time to eat and socialize, etc., which can be a little overwhelming until you find a schedule that works.
As you adjust to your new independence, you might find that your grades aren’t what they could be. Don’t sweat it, you’ll have plenty of options for academic support. Every college or university has ample resources and tutors to help keep you on track or tackle a tough class, but you can help yourself by taking advantage of technology. Download a few productivity apps for students to balance your social and academic life like a pro.