With college being a time of uncertainty and adjustments, it’s easy for me to say that I didn’t have a clue what to expect my first year. I understood that my main objective going into college was to get an education, but as far as the changes I was going to face, I was going in completely blind. 

Even though most freshmen across the country have to go through the same adjustments, the ways colleges or universities help foster independence, can be a large part of how freshmen first perceive college and how well they do in day-to-day college life. 

Beginning in early June, freshman orientation helped make each student entering feel more comfortable and confident at Sonoma State. Orientation made it easier to come back a few months later in August because I knew more about the school and felt more comfortable around other students. 

From the well-trained orientation leaders to the endless “ice breakers,” the mandatory freshman orientation helped me ease into the transition from high school to college. Along with orientation, the first week of classes came with numerous activities for all students, which helped blend the freshmen with the other students. 

Although Big Nite was sometimes incredibly overwhelming, due to the amount of people I didn’t recognize, the fact that I got to spend time with my roommates and feel a part of the school was a great introduction to what college life will be like.

A big part of the reason why I chose SSU was the housing. When I toured in April, the spacious living room and kitchen as well as the intimate bathroom area, was a huge plus. 

I didn’t realize until after I moved in and spent my first few days in my dorm, just how much the housing helped me transition from life at home to life in college. 

I still had a kitchen right outside my door but this time  the freedom to choose what to stock it with. Since I shared a bathroom with my little sister at home, doing the same thing with a single roommate in college is a breeze. 

Compared to some of my friends off at large, southern universities who share a bathroom with their entire floor, I consider myself lucky. Sonoma State’s housing is only an added benefit to freshmen that are just starting their college career.

It may be difficult finding a balance between immediate independence and not severing your ties to home completely. With SSU’s dorms being so homey and apartment like, the transformation was easier for me to get acclimated with life without my parents. 

This is where Sonoma State and their housing are such an added plus for new adults attempting to be independent for the first time. One still loves and needs their parents, but at the same time, living on campus provides an opportunity for growth as an adult. 

A large part of freshman year at Sonoma State is the Freshman Learning Communities. The program I’m in, known as Freshman Year Experience, focuses on learning in a new way by introducing interesting novels and intriguing guest lectures to be discussed in a small and private group setting. This not only gives me a more positive outlook on learning my freshman year, but I feel more self-assured in the education that Sonoma is going to give me. 

Even though I’m just dipping my toes into adulthood, I know that Sonoma State will always have the resources I need to have a successful freshman year. From their reputable housing, to the infinite amount of events held on campus, Sonoma State is the prefect environment for me to grow and flourish in my first year of college.