When students transition from high school to college, it can be a large jump, not only because they have the chance to move far from home, but also because students become aware that they are independent and have the freedom to make their own decisions.
Freshman Kenadee Pinkerton attends Appalachian State University, located in Boone, North Carolina, and is studying Early Elementary Education. She is on track to be an elementary school teacher. Pinkerton is also a part of the dance team that attends many community events; therefore, it can be difficult trying to balance the day-to-day pressure of classes, being a student athlete and still having a college experience. Pinkerton graduated from GHS last year.
“It takes the majority of my afternoon and night to practice, but mentally it takes me the whole day to mentally prepare to go to practice,” Pinkerton said.
Staying organized is a huge part of studying at the college level. Many universities have 25% of their student population competing as student athletes and 54% involved in activities and Greek life. Balancing social lives, sports and school work can be challenging. Many students struggle, especially being far away from home and all the people they grew up with.
“When coming from an out-of-state perspective,” Pinkerton said, “it’s hard having a lot of students in my classes come from different curricula because I feel like they already know a lot of the information that I don’t, but beneficially the organization tools I was handed in high school definitely helped.”
Andrew Kula, a freshman at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, spoke to the difference between attending a university in-state vs out of state. Kula graduated from Gretna High School and is currently in school studying software engineering. He also works two jobs outside of school.
“It can be a strain working two jobs while also attending labs and classes, but it takes a lot of mental discipline to work as much as I do, and then still or have time for to do classes. But I wouldn’t say it’s undoable,” Kula said.
While being in a whole other state away from “normal” life, Pinkerton said that she hasn’t experienced burnout or extreme stress yet.
“I think once the weather gets cold and I can’t go home as much, it will start to get a little harder to want to go to my classes and get the show up grade, but mostly just try to not get down on myself and do the things that make me happy here on campus will really help,” Pinkerton said. “When students jump from high school to the college level, whether that be in sports, school, jobs or money management, it can be an adjustment. It’s a huge jump, and the biggest jump definitely being a new environment away from your friends and what you’ve known.”
Kula also said that when in college, everyone is a new student, especially freshmen, and no matter what, no one knows what to expect; everyone is just trying to figure out their new life. This can be a struggle for any new student, whether in-state or out-of-state.
“One of the things I think helped me was living in a dorm and getting the dorm experience, being able to make friends in the halls and meet new people really did help a lot and make a new place feel more like a home for me,” Pinkerton said.
When entering college, students may take on various work accounts based on their chosen majors and minors. When in college, students typically attend a limited number of classes a day, leaving them with ample time to explore their campus, meet new students and work.
“With high school, you go in at eight o’clock and you are there till three, not to mention clubs you may attend to before and after that, but with college, you have block scheduling and get to decide everything that happens from day to day,” said Kula. “So yes, it can be overstated how much free time you will have from high school to college.”
Many college students struggle with the emotional stress of college, as well as living in a dorm with a stranger you have no idea about. Pinkerton and Kula both said how important it is to go out and be the student they want to be in a new environment where no one knows them yet.
“You’re going to meet a lot of new people, so you just have to be willing to go out and network with strangers at that point, but it’s also not cheap, so always remember why you are there and have fun doing what you’re there to do,” Kula said.
Pinkerton had advice too.
“Be patient with yourself and put yourself out there, and say yes to as much as you can to get you out of your dorm,” Pinkerton said.
