When the time came for me to move to a big city and go to college, I was happy and anxious at the same time. I would finally have some freedom and experience the perks of a student life, but I would lie if I told you I wasn’t sad and scared as well. After all, it was going to be a big shock to move away and to such big place. Now when I look at my life, I feel like I made it quite well, but it took time and effort.
Initial Preparation
God bless the modern times; I’ve spent hours on the Internet looking at different areas of the city, trying to get the general idea of how everything looked like before I actually got there. I figured it would help me not get lost the first time I leave the apartment. I was fortunate enough to get a place that was rather near my college, but it took me a few weeks to get to know where the bus stops were, which café had the best coffee, and where the cheapest food was. I was a typical student but my research helped me feel calmer and safer, and I recommend everyone do the same before they move.
Different Set of Rules for Loners
I found it hard to believe at first how little personal space you actually can get. Subway, restaurant, campus, bus, and hallway – it was always crowded! On the other hand, none of those people you got so physically close with wasn’t you friend. If you needed some peace and quiet you could take out your phone and (pretend to) text someone, read newspapers, or sit quietly in a corner. I learned to always carry a book with me, that way I always had something to do when I was waiting and when I wanted to be left alone for a while. Good news for loners: very few people will bother you when they see you’re busy reading.
Lifestyle Changes
It caught me by surprise just how big was the big city when I moved, and since I was used to walking everywhere I panicked a bit because it would take me forever to get from point A to point B. I realized that I needed a car, but I wasn’t very confident in my driving skills, so I took up safer drivers course and it had helped me relax when I was behind the wheel. The hard part was finding parking spots and paying for gas, but at least I wasn’t late to classes anymore.
How to Meet Awesome New People
Of course, I knew I would meet plenty of interesting new people once my classes started, but I didn’t want to rely on school alone. When I talked to some of my older friends who have been through this situation, they advised that I take up a hobby, so I decided to join the gym for start. It was the best decision I made, honestly; I met some guys who I knew from campus and we ended up becoming friends. The circle of friends grew and it was much easier to start conversations now when I was involved in something: ‘What I do in my free time? Oh, I love video games and I work out’. It helped with the ladies as well 🙂
It wasn’t easy, I have to admit, and it took a lot of time, patience, dedication, and slight panic attacks to get to where I am now. I am really comfortable in the big city and its size and speed not freak m out anymore. There were some bad moments too when I had felt nostalgic and all alone, but as I got comfortable and met great new people such moments got more and more rare. Believe in yourself and always have a positive attitude – you won’t believe what difference these two make. Good luck!
