First Day of College Jitters

To all of you starting college for the first time in a couple of weeks, you know how I feel.  This is no kindergarten, middle school, or high school jitters.  We are entering an entire different chapter of our lives.  There are so many questions and concerns.  How am I going to make friends? What if I get homesick? What if I am late to my classes or what if I change my idea about what I want for my future? These questions are on constant replay in my mind.

While I am writing this, I am watching (or really listening to…) Joel Olsteen.  Joel is a TV evangelist and I’ve been watching him since I was in grade school.  He’s talking about being positive and keeping negative thoughts at bay.  It’s hard to stop negative thoughts because that’s purely human. But he says that if you verbalize your negative thoughts, you’re keeping yourself from a blessing.
  We can get discouraged when God doesn’t answer our prayers right away.  But we have to keep faith.  No matter how long it takes, we can’t get negative. It’s a self-prophesizing type of idea.  It will only happen if you believe it will happen.

I got some pretty good advice from a friend/mentor at camp.  He told me to just talk to everyone on the first day I’m there.  That way people would remember you and talk to you later on.  Despite my obvious introversion, I’m going to try.  Not gonna lie, I’m sort of terrified.  But I know I’ve got to stay positive so that I can make the most of my college experience.

If nothing else is important about getting through at least that first semester, make sure you have someone to go to when you need help.  It can be your roommate, your parents, you best friend, a sibling, or some other relative.  Anyone really, who is genuinely concerned about your well being. 

I hope someone can take something away from this because I really don’t have anything more to say.  I’m not speaking from experience so I’m trying to help myself as much as I am trying to help you.  Good luck and God bless!