By Russell Bailyn

Graduating high school and entering New York University was a significant transition. I use that word over others because although life was changing, adapting was easy and the environment was friendly. It was no secret that everybody on my floor was anxious to meet everyone else and make friends immediately to cope with living on their own. I only moved from Long Island, whereas others were coming from down South, the West Coast, and even Europe. If I had to say one thing about making the transition from high school to college easier, it would be to start off on day one being extremely upbeat. Image is addictive and smiles spread-you will instantly be a leader if you project a voice of confidence for yourself.

Another observation I had was that going to college will generally place you into a more comfortable atmosphere than high school because colleges have certain qualities which identify them, and therefore so do the students. I was able to connect and befriend at least half the kids on my floor within the first week due to basic similarities between us. At a school as gigantic as NYU, kids bond over specific things they have in common; a major, a hometown, or a hobby. Eventually, one circle of friends overlaps with another and you’re making friends with the guy you never thought you had anything in common with. It’s easier at the college level because people enter with the knowledge that they will broaden their horizons and have a fresh start. It’s an important time to develop your personality and make an imprint on your new world. I found that the students who greeted freshman year of college with fear and uncertainty created a vulnerability for themselves.

The most important thing to do freshman year is get involved with as many peers as possible. Check out the sports, clubs, activities, and parties. Try everything at least once so that you know what you like and what you don’t like. By having exposure to lots of people my freshman year, my network expanded all the way through to my graduation. However, I’m still closest with the kids I met my freshman year, in my freshman dorm.

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