With the big Leaving Cert over and done with, the focus of every student is changing from points to offers, from studying differentiation for maths, to studying campus maps.
The exams are over, the dust has settled and all of the decisions have been made. So naturally, new worries come to the fore and when you’re starting college, there is no shortage of concerns.
But stay calm. Plenty of people have made this transition before you. So don't panic and don't buy into all the hype. The hype makes the transition into third level overwhelming. The pressure to go out, to go wild, to succeed, to make new friends, to ensure that these are "the best years of your life" and to actually go to class after all that, can be a bit much.
The odd night in
Believe it or not, you don't have to go out every night or attend every party. Obviously have a good time and enjoy your new freedom but remember it is okay to say no and to catch up on some sleep. You never know, you might have just as much fun staying in and watching Friends re-runs all night with your roomies.
My second piece of advice – don’t expect to like your new lifestyle all of the time. First year in college was one of the best years of my life but it was not easy and it wasn’t always fun. Moving away from home and friends can be daunting and lonely.
The worst part about first year is that nobody will admit that they’re scared too. Everyone at third level has put in a lot of hard work to get there and appreciates how lucky they are to have the opportunity to attend. Add the expense of college into the mix, combined with parental and personal expectations and it can be very hard for students to admit that they’re having a tough time. It’s easy to think that everyone else absolutely loves it, so talk to someone honestly, tell them how you are feeling if you are lonely and chances are they’re going through the same difficulties.
If you move away from home for college, you will, like most people, probably miss home, especially in the first month or two, so rally around each other and do some things that remind you of home. Have "family" dinners with your roommates or go on a day out together – you'd be surprised how small homely rituals can lift your mood.
Scary transition
College won't be what you expect. Then again, was secondary school what you expected? Or primary school? You have made transitions before and come out the other side. This one may seem scary because it's in tandem with journeying into adulthood but it's nothing you can't handle.
While all the other years seem to have it all under control, you’re just struggling on, getting lost in the library and spending five hours trying to figure out how to work the printers.
Something that can be quite scary when you go to college is the feeling that nobody is looking out for you anymore. Without parents or teachers looking over your shoulder, your decisions are your own and you have to step up to the mark and become responsible.
Attend as many lectures as possible. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help if you need it. Most campuses offer great support services for both academic and personal difficulties. Get involved in college life. There’s a huge range of clubs and societies to choose from, try at least one or two.
Don’t expect to have the smoothest of transitions into college life. Expect to feel lonely some times and to miss home. But don’t forget to have an amazing year, meet wonderful new people and learn about things that you are actually interested in.
As a friend of mine said at the end of our first year, “we started the year crying because we wanted to go home and we ended it the same way because we didn’t want to leave.” Best of luck.
Cliodhna Quirke is a member of the Jigsaw Kerry Youth Advisory Panel and Headstrong's Youth Advisory Panel. Tony Bates is on leave.