Finding your first-year niche takes patience

My first year at the University of South Dakota was great and awful simultaneously — like most worthwhile experiences.

I came to USD knowing absolutely no one. I was seven hours away from home, and at the time, couldn’t be happier about it. That changed pretty quickly.

I was in a long distance relationship, didn’t get along with my roommate and kept getting sick.
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I knew college would be hard, and I knew that I’d miss home. I was pretty sure I could handle that.

What I couldn’t handle, and didn’t always understand, was how I could see and appreciate all of the opportunities being a journalism major at USD presented to me, but still wanted out. I had met and made really genuine friends, but I felt impossibly alone. I knew that USD was where I was supposed to be, but I hated it.

I got good grades, I was getting better at The Volante and I was getting closer to my friends — but still felt sad the majority of the time. I was seriously considering transferring until about midway through the second semester.

It wasn’t any one thing or moment that made me change my mind, but I couldn’t be more glad that I did.

Like I said, I know I’m supposed to be here. Now I actually enjoy it.

If you’re struggling, or you feel out of place, my best piece of advice is to stick the first year out. If you still hate it, then find a place that’s a better fit. But give yourself that time to grow and appreciate the things that you have going for you.

In the meantime, do the best you can. Take half an hour to cry it out, listen to music, call your mom — whatever calms you down. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. Once I finally started letting people in, it really, really made a difference.

(Photo: First-year students file out of the DakotaDome after the Class of 2018 Convocation ceremony Aug. 22. File photo / The Volante)