Here I am in the Student Union, experiencing that all too familiar feeling again. You know, the “kid who sits alone at the lunch table” feeling? If you’re having a difficult time with that picture, just think back to the first day of your freshman year in high school. If you were like me, you didn’t know anybody, knew nothing about how to get to what classes and where, and everyone seemed meaner or cooler or more likely to do well than you did. It was intimidating. Gives you the chills, right?
Now fast forward to your last day of senior year- where you probably talked to everyone or at least knew who they were. You were accomplished, happy, and well-adjusted. That happy senior was me, only six months ago. While most people head straight to college after high school, I was forced to take a totally different route. After jumping up and down at my acceptance letters from Penn State University, Long Island University, Iona College, and, of course, the fabulous SUNY College at Old Westbury, I had to make a decision. Doing that alone was hard enough. I initially chose Penn State and proceeded with their freshman program. After calculating all my expenses, however, my family and I began to realize I just couldn’t swing it. Even with two off campus jobs and help from my parents, I’d be in a ton of post-grad debt if I stayed, and I decided that didn’t think the high cost of Penn was worth it. I had quickly gone from happy senior to stressed out, lonely freshman all over again.
Devastated, I re-evaluated my options. After visiting a few campuses (including Old West) I decided that the best and most affordable option was Old Westbury. I liked the dorms, the sports, the colors-I picked an interesting major and ran with it! And it brings me back to the Student Union, where I am right now. First year advising, first year testing, first year, first year. It’s everywhere. I should feel totally welcome, but I don’t. Why? Because I’m a freshman who started mid-semester. Nobody really gives too much thought to people who are in situations like mine: they’re freshmen who transferred mid-year; 17, 18 and 19 year olds who had to enter the workforce early because of family or other personal reasons- but are now returning to college. We don’t walk through the doors of our respective campuses as happy seniors. We walk in as disgruntled students, stressed-out workers, or even parents.
Whatever the circumstances were that forced us to transfer or begin mid-semester during what should be the most fun, exciting year of college-nobody seems to care. There isn’t a special orientation for us like there is for a regular freshman student. We don’t get awesome “First Six Weeks” events and prizes. As a matter of fact, we pretty much get treated the same as transfers from community colleges, who have had college experience and are probably more prepared for the shift than we are. We are forced to bounce back and forth between all of our responsibilities and worries, while at the same time having to manage the typical stressors your average college freshman would encounter. It’s a sort of mental song and dance we’re asked to perform, only nobody’s having fun.
In the Student Union, I eye some of my fellow mid-year freshman transfer song-and-dancers. They remind me of those scared, lonely freshmen I described earlier. Many have never been to a college campus before; most have no idea what to expect. Like me, they’re wondering how to meet people and make friends without the aid of those first-year parties and events that Old West offers at the beginning of the year. This is a huge problem! Although we make up a significant percentage of the student body, we are severely underrepresented in campus programs and with advising. I can only speak for myself here, but I think this is totally unfair and needs to change. Why not offer a special freshman transfers only event for those of us who missed out in the fall? Or offer a different version of the “First Six Weeks”? (Might I offer the clever title “First Six Months?”). In any case, whether you are a lost freshman transfer or a happy senior or somewhere in between, remember to take advantage of every resource you can find and make the most of what this campus has to offer. Although it may not seem like it at first, there are plenty of people here to help you.
For me, one really helpful person was Dr. Laura Anker of the First Year Experience and the Community Action, Learning and Leadership Program. Her patience, time, and refreshing kindness helped get me through my first day at Old West! Also, this last message goes out to my fellow mid-year transfer song-and-dancers: keep your minds and eyes open.