My First Week Of College: A Conceptual Analysis

The first week of college is much like any life altering change; it can be frightening. Students may doubt their ability to perform academically, fit in with classmates, and balance responsibilities. These are typical and can be healthy concerns. Fear forces people to either create limitations that keep them from trying or fuel as motivation to overcome any obstacles in their way. If students see themselves succeeding at the things they were afraid of it can prove liberating and empowering. Facing fears of failure and incompetence with determination can create confident and successful graduates.

Academic performance anxieties can be overwhelming to any student. Students are scared the work will be too difficult for them. They may not think they are smart enough to learn at such a level or think they aren't prepared for the expectations of college professors. In my case, I was afraid the work would be too hard, due to my 14 years lapse in education. My first week, making a 99 on my English Compass Test changed that. Some students find the work easier than they expected. Others find it easy to access the necessary tools, such as the learning commons and free

Some students are introverted and find it difficult to interact in new environments; other students, may have had past experiences that cause social anxiety. For me, coming to college at 33 years old was intimidating. Most students have a general concern for being accepted by their classmates. In college, students are surrounded by classmates of different ages, with different ethnicities, races, social classes, religious beliefs, backgrounds and interests. If we are only around those exactly like us then we miss out on so much in life. There are common similarities amongst those that we might not normally be able to have the