Thriving Through Change: Adjusting to Life as a University Student By Madelyn Cook
Thriving Through Change: Adjusting to Life as a University Student
By Madelyn Cook
University is a time filled with major life transitions, whether it is moving away from home, meeting new people, managing academic expectations, or determining future career paths, we, as students, are overwhelmed with many changes all at once. While these transitions can be exciting and full of opportunity, from my experience, this is a time that can also feel stressful and demanding. Learning how to adapt to change is an important skill that helps students grow both academically and personally. Three key strategies that I found helped me adjust to life’s transitions during this challenging time were: building social support systems, creating a new routine and reframing how I viewed the transition itself.
Building a strong support system is a key factor for navigating transitions of any kind successfully. During times of change it’s easy to feel isolated or disconnected, especially for someone moving away from home like myself. Staying in touch with family, maintaining friendships and forming new connections on campus can make a significant difference in your mental health and the stability of change. Within the first few weeks of University, even though I was uncomfortable and nervous, I pushed myself to attend residence and greater campus events. What I found out is that they ultimately created a space for me to make connections with people I’m still friends with today in my fourth year! Through this, I created a foundation of people I could reach out to during stressful periods which made things feel more manageable and reminded me I was not alone.
I worked hard to develop a healthy routine; after some trial and error, that seemed to work best for me. Creating this balance allowed me to have a sense of control and created stability during times that felt uncertain and scary. With my new university schedule being less structured than in high school, I had to manage my time differently. I established habits like setting aside time for studying, building in physical activity regularly and ensuring that I got enough sleep (which was hard)! This helped with both my productivity and mental health. I also built in time for gratitude; in fact, I began a gratitude wall where every day I wrote one thing on a sticky note that I was grateful for and posted it on the wall in my room. Some days there were more things than others and some days gratitude was simply just the sun in the sky. My gratitude wall is something I have continued throughout my time at Carleton repeating each year. Establishing even these small routines provided me with a sense of control and predictability that helped me feel secure during this transition.
Practicing self-compassion during periods of stress can be challenging. Many of us place intense pressure on ourselves to perform academically while also balancing social lives, new responsibilities and personal challenges. I believe it is important to remember that no one can handle all transitions perfectly or be immune to the challenges or emotions that come with them. Mistakes, setbacks, and moments of doubt are all part of the learning process, and building resilience to become who you are meant to be individually. It is important to remember to be patient and kind with oneself and recognize personal growth to help reduce stress and build confidence.
Seeking help when everything feels too much is an essential part of adjusting. There are many amazing wellness services and resources on campus at Carleton including access to academic advisors, counseling services, tutoring programs and career guidance. I wish I had taken advantage of these opportunities more often throughout my years at Carleton. These valuable supports allow students the chance to figure out the right direction with guidance. It is important to remember that asking for help isn’t weakness, but rather a commitment to learning and evolving.
Maintaining a true sense of perspective can help navigate transitions with ease. When I am feeling overwhelmed, I turn to my support system. My mom still encourages me to think of university in small pieces: in the whole scheme of life, every test, every assignment, and every day are all brief parts in a much larger life journey. While certain challenges may feel overwhelming in the moment, many of them will eventually become valuable learning experiences. Staying open to growth, building supportive relationships, and caring for your well-being can turn life transitions into amazing opportunities for personal development.
Adjusting to change is rarely an easy task; although, it is a meaningful part of the university experience. Through patience, support and self-awareness, you can not only survive these transitions but you can thrive through them. I will leave you with something else my mom always says to me when I feel overwhelmed… “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”