After hugging and saying goodbye to family for what feels like the tenth time, you’ve found yourself left alone at the Mecca. You might have already begun to take in your surroundings, like the hourly chimes from the clock tower of Founders Library or the booming roar of four-wheeler engines speeding down Georgia Avenue. 

Transitioning from highschool to college can be jarring, awkward, and even isolating. Here are a few recommendations for making your first few weeks on campus feel less stressful, as a senior who experienced their first time on campus just two years ago.

Get to know your new home.

There is nothing worse than feeling alone in a place that also feels completely unfamiliar. Give your body a chance to get used to the heat, and hills, and make an effort to orient yourself so that you know campus like the back of your hand by the time classes pick up.

Get out there. 

You can’t connect with your future besties and classmates from your room; you have to go find them. Student-run organizations like Howard University Undergraduate Student Assembly, Howard University Student Association, and New To The Mecca are constantly posting about happenings around campus. Practice discernment. Attend events that you know you will enjoy. Never feel pressured to attend events just because everyone else is going. 

Patience really is pertinent.

Making friends can be anxiety inducing but trust that you will find your community one way or another. In the meantime, relish in the generous opportunity to get to know yourself. Consider exploring facets of your personality and hobbies that you never got to expound upon in the past. 

Keep an open-mind.

You never know where or when you’ll meet someone that will become an integral part of your Howard experience. While it’s completely normal to be shy in an environment you are still adjusting to, make a conscious effort to keep putting yourself out there, despite the discomfort. 

Remember why you’re here.

When I first got to Howard University, I was so focused on meeting people that I hadn’t even fully registered for all of the classes I needed. Make sure you are up to date on Bisonweb to ensure you have signed up for all the courses you need for the semester.

Whether you miraculously find your friend group during welcome week or spend the majority of your first month or semester on campus solo, know that you deserve to be here and will find a community within Howard. Your people can’t wait to meet you.