This article is excerpted from Collegiate, a quarterly Bible study curriculum and magazine for college students and ministry leaders.
No matter what your major or school, there are several inevitabilities about college life: all-nighters, ramen noodles, sleep deprivation. And change. From a change in geography or a change in major (and another change in major, and another ...) to a change in roommates, in philosophy, or in independence level, you're going to experience countless transitions during your college years.
While all that change can seem as mountainous and overwhelming as the homework your profs keep assigning you, with a little preparation you can take these transitions in stride. And maybe even enjoy the journey. Here's how to navigate two of the biggest college transitions you'll experience.
From high school senior to college freshman
Now that you're here
You've probably been preparing for this transition for a couple of years: making college visits, filling out countless pages of application forms, considering majors, and buying new towels and pajamas you won't be embarrassed to be seen sporting in your dorm hallway.
Besides all these big and/or practical preparations, don't forget the relational ones. If you haven't really gotten to know your roommate yet, talk to him or her about spending some time together. Take a walk around campus or go for a cheap pizza. Also consider laying some basic ground rules for your new pad. It's important that you invest some time and energy in your roommate since you'll most likely be living in tight quarters together until summer.
And now that you've made the plunge and are officially a freshman, it's important to establish some good habits that will stay with you throughout your college career. Research Christian groups on campus (such as the Baptist Campus Ministry (BCM/BSU), Christian Challenge, Campus Crusade or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship) that'll help you find some like-minded community and keep you focused on what truly matters - growing in Christ through studying and experiencing His Word.
It's also important to remember those people you love back home. If you haven't already, determine how often you want to keep in touch with the 'rents. Teach your mom how to text you, and finally friend your little brother on Facebook. It may be a nice break right now, but eventually you're going to miss him more than you realize. Really. Planning your first visit home will also give everyone something to look forward to.
You're probably aware by now that transitioning to college is an overwhelming change that'll expose you to new thoughts, ideas, and beliefs. Writing out a personal mission statement or a list of your core values at the start of your college years will help you stay grounded in the midst of all the newness.
Live with it
Don't be too proud to ask your RA, academic advisor, or campus pastor for advice if you're feeling depressed, constantly fighting with your roomie, suspecting you picked the wrong school and/or major, and so on. Asking for help doesn't mean you're weak; it means you're smart enough to realize this is a huge learning process you've just embarked on.
"One of the best pieces of advice we received was at the University of Illinois," says Bruce Gaylord, father of three college grads and a fourth daughter in her sophomore year. "They told my daughter that one of the most important things to do is jump into activities right away. Getting involved immediately is one of the best ways to make a big school seem a lot smaller."
Move on from it
As you near the end of your freshman year, reread that mission statement you crafted at the beginning of the school year and see how it jibes with your freshman experience. Think about the lessons you've learned outside the classroom. Ask your friends and family what changes they've noticed in you. Now, ask yourself if you like this person you're becoming. If so, celebrate your first few strides into adulthood. If not, think about some course corrections you'd like to make over the summer.
Learn from it
You don't have to fear the big new unknown; it's a chance to lean on God and grow in surprising new ways. You are your own person (not your parents, your teachers, your pastor, or your friends). In fact, you're becoming a grown up.
From college graduate to the 'real world'
Prepare for it
Yay, you! You've almost made it. Don't let senioritis or any fears about the future slow you down now.
Ask someone in your campus career center to help you set up a day to shadow someone with a job in your field of study. Grill this person - and the folks at the career center - about important next steps. Prepare your résumé early and get feedback on it from as many people as possible.
Pray for direction regularly, and get some prayer partners to join you. This is a great way to include your old youth leader, your grandma, your siblings, or your significant other (if you have one). Keep them posted on specific requests with regular e-mails.
As you're caught up in the details of finding a job and getting the rest of your life started, don't lose sight of the big picture. Haase asks his senior students to consider what their "gravestone word" is. "What do you want to be remembered for when it's all said and done?" he asks. "What one word sums that up? That gives you something to shoot for as you start the rest of your life."
Live with it
Don't freak out. No, really, stop it. If you didn't find a spouse in college or you don't land a dream job just days after graduation, so what? Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Enjoy the journey. And live well today.
If you find yourself a bit depressed once the next chapter of your life starts, know that's normal. "You might find yourself mourning the loss of your college realities - especially the easy community you enjoyed there," warns Christian psychologist Margaret Nagib. "You have to be a lot more deliberate about community after college. And no one warns new grads about that, which only makes things worse!" Anticipating this major transition in your social life and knowing you'll need to be proactive about establishing friendships in your new season will certainly help.
Move on from it
"At the end of your first day of college, everything you did in high school becomes much less important and everyone starts fresh. The same thing is true after your first day at work," says Gaylord. "Most bosses and coworkers don't care much about where you went to college or what happened there." You're being given a clean slate, and you don't get that very often in life. Write on it well.
Learn from it
"The point of college is not to learn how to make a living, but to learn to be a lifelong learner," says Haase. "That's why it's called commencement; it's the beginning of a lifelong journey of education."