"Make sure to bring shower shoes and rain boots! My freshman year, I had to share the showers with 60 girls, so shower shoes were a must! Also, the sidewalks flood quickly at many schools, so rain boots are an excellent investment!" - Sara Kinsey (JTHS '12)
What if I hate
being away at school?
"I absolutely hated being at school for the majority of my freshman year. I kept it a secret and when I was trying to convince my friends about how much fun I was having at school I realized I was actually trying to convince myself. The truth is, being away at college is not easy. You will feel alone, you will feel sad, and you will feel like you want to be back in high school. DO NOT WORRY! Almost everyone feels this way; and I promise you it will pass. It is going to take time (you will soon realize patience is a virtue and time heals all wounds). It’s okay to admit that you are not having fun at school…tell someone in your family and they will talk you through it. Tell your best friend, because maybe they are not having the best time either and you guys can vent about it. However, it will pass. You will get used to being away at college and you will get out of high school." -Amanda Gerritsen (JTHS '12)
Did you feel homesick at first?"I absolutely hated being at school for the majority of my freshman year. I kept it a secret and when I was trying to convince my friends about how much fun I was having at school I realized I was actually trying to convince myself. The truth is, being away at college is not easy. You will feel alone, you will feel sad, and you will feel like you want to be back in high school. DO NOT WORRY! Almost everyone feels this way; and I promise you it will pass. It is going to take time (you will soon realize patience is a virtue and time heals all wounds). It’s okay to admit that you are not having fun at school…tell someone in your family and they will talk you through it. Tell your best friend, because maybe they are not having the best time either and you guys can vent about it. However, it will pass. You will get used to being away at college and you will get out of high school." -Amanda Gerritsen (JTHS '12)
"I think that everyone feels a little homesick at first. You're are living with complete strangers, you have to adjust to new ways of living, you must create a new schedule, and on top of all of that you are getting piles of work. At first it is a little difficult to adjust, but once you adjust it is the best thing ever. I suggest not going home for the first few weeks." - Sara Kinsey (JTHS '12)
What if I don’t make any friends while I am at college?
"That is blasphemous, because EVERYONE makes at least one friend at college (and chances are you are going to make tons!). Will all of these friends be your best friend and will they last until graduation? Probably not. You are going to meet so many different people, people way different from Jefferson people (and let me tell you, I’ve realized Jefferson has some pretty cool people so beware of the uncool people you will meet). Be nice to everyone and be open to others perspectives and views…making friends is fun!" -Amanda Gerritsen (JTHS '12)
What is the best way to make new friends?
"The best way to make friends is to be outgoing. Say hi and introduce yourself to everyone you see the first week. If you're extremely shy like me and don't feel comfortable doing this, just smile at people. If they're outgoing they will introduce themselves to you. I met a lot of wonderful people who took the ten seconds out of the day to say hi and introduce themselves to me. Also, the first week of school, sit with different people everyday in the cafeteria. This is a great way to make new friends. The one day I had no one to sit with, so I sat with a few girls that looked nice and now they are my best friends!" - Sara Kinsey (JTHS '12)
What are some things to consider prior to moving onto campus?
"The most important thing to consider is the size of your dorm room. Dorms are small, so you have to make the most of the space you are provided with. Make sure you do not bring unnecessary things. You do not need to bring you're entire closet (like I tried doing), only bring the essentials for that season. In many dorms, you can raise your bed, so you can make under your bed a storage space. It is also important to make sure you understand your meal plan before arriving on campus. Every college has a different meal plan system. Additionally, find out about the laundry rooms. At some colleges you have to pay to do laundry, so make sure you are aware of how your laundry works. Also, make sure you learn how to do your own laundry!" - Sara Kinsey (JTHS '12)
How do you do laundry?
"Every washer and dryer is a little different, so you need to figure out what the different settings are. Many times people go away to school not knowing how to do laundry or they use the wrong settings. I thought it would be a good idea to put my clothes on delicates, but it was hot water and shrunk all of my brand new dresses that were supposed to be washed in cold water, so be careful! Also, make sure you don't put nice things in the dryer. Use this link for laundry tips - College Life - Laundry." - Sara Kinsey (JTHS '12)
Do the dorms get hot?
"It depends on your school. My freshman year we didn't have AC, so it got extremely hot at times. Therefore, I recommend bringing a fan!" -Sara Kinsey (JTHS '12)
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