The Things Nobody Told Me About Going to College (and Why I’m Thinking About It All Over Again)
- Tasha_Shadae
- Aug 10
- 3 min read
College has been the hot topic in my world. My nephew is heading into his third year this September, my son will be in college in just three short years, and my neighbors’ and friends’ kids are packing up their dorm décor as we speak. Somewhere between all the “congratulations!” and “what will you major in?” conversations, I realized something, a lot of kids are walking into this huge life transition wildly unprepared.
It made me think back to when I went to college. If I could sit my freshman-year self down, I’d have a lot to say, and not just about buying a better pillow or figuring out how to do laundry without turning everything pink.
Leaving Home is Exciting… and Terrifying
I remember the way my heart raced that first night in my dorm. Not the fun, “I’m-about-to-go-to-a-party” kind of racing more like the “I-just-realized-I’m-responsible-for-myself” kind. You’ve got your freedom, sure. But that freedom comes with a side of homesickness, endless decisions, and a budget that somehow disappears by mid-month.
And yet, that’s where the growing happens. You start figuring out who you are when no one’s there to wake you up, remind you to eat, or double-check that you submitted that paper on time.
The Balancing Act Nobody Prepares You For
College is this weird mix of total chaos and endless opportunity. One day, you’re cramming for a midterm you forgot about, the next you’re signing up for a club that has you hiking mountains with strangers.
Here’s what I wish I’d known: You have to make a plan for yourself academically, socially, and personally before college starts. That doesn’t mean you need to have every detail figured out (spoiler: you won’t). But you do need to decide how you’re going to balance late nights with early classes, social life with study time, and independence with responsibility.
This is exactly why I put together a College Student’s Handbook for my nephew because the “figure it out as you go” approach costs way more time, stress, and money than anyone tells you.
Staying Grounded in the Middle of It All
It’s easy to get swept up in the newness of everything the people, the parties, the “yes” to every invite. But staying grounded matters. For me, that looked like:
Calling home once a week (even when I swore I didn’t need to).
Finding a “quiet spot” on campus where I could breathe and think.
Setting personal rules for money, friendships, and even my sleep schedule (and sticking to them… mostly).
That’s something I try to share with the younger people in my life now. College isn’t just about getting a degree, it’s about learning how to build your life while living it.
Why I’m Thinking About All This Now
Watching my nephew step into another year, knowing my son will be there soon, and seeing other kids in my community take the leap, I’m reminded that college isn’t just an academic step, it’s a life shift.
Some kids are ready for that. A lot aren’t. And honestly, even the ones who think they’re ready still get blindsided by the reality of it all. That’s why I believe in preparing for more than just classes. Before leaving for college you and your child should talk about mental health, time management, budgeting, personal safety, and yes even how to make friends without feeling awkward. College will change you in the best ways, if you let it. It’s scary, thrilling, overwhelming, and unforgettable. The more you walk in with a plan, the more you can enjoy the good stuff and handle the hard stuff.
So whether you’re heading off this year, counting down the months like my son, or just curious about what’s coming, remember this: college is the beginning of your story — but you get to decide how you write it.
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