It seems like a lifetime ago that I was completing an assortment of college applications. Spending hours on college essays, I was glad when the process was over. After I got accepted into the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, it started to settle in that I would be three hours away from the home. Looking back, being that distance from home turned out to be the best thing for me.
Move-in weekend can be an emotional overload. For incoming freshman, you really don’t quite know what to expect and your parents are probably riding a wave of emotions. When my parents dropped me off and helped me settle in, I had no clue what the next four years were going to look like. Rarely did I spend a night away off the farm, so being three hours away hadn’t fully hit me yet. As we said our goodbyes, which included some tears, I remember waving to them as they drove back to the farm. Here I am now living in a strange place, not knowing a single soul. How was I supposed to make friends? Where do I eat? Is my roommate weird? All these questions filled my thoughts. Now looking back, I had nothing to worry about.
Believe it or not, everyone is in the same boat when they first arrive at college. Their worries? They are the same as yours. It may sound cliché, but going to the freshman activities and joining clubs helped me meet new people and build long lasting relationships. But some of my best friends were not affiliated with agriculture whatsoever. Those general freshman classes that you’re forced to take? That’s where I met some of my best friends. You may not be the same major, but you may vibe with their personality.
As you’re starting your college career, it almost always seems like everyone is asking you, “What are you going to school for?” The reality is you don’t have to know. So many factors can change the trajectory of your college career; it’s hard to know if you’ll even like the major you choose when you start freshman year. It has been proven that 80% of college students change their major at least once. Don’t feel obligated to stick with the major you came in with. Align your education with your passions and go from there.
Most colleges assign you an adviser. My advice is to use this resource! If you don’t mesh with your adviser, seek out one who may click better with your goals and values. Having someone there to answer questions and seek out career advice helped me kickstart my career.
Going into your freshman year can be nerve-racking. Utilizing the resources available to you on campus and trying new things will ultimately make the experience better. My four years went by way too fast, and I would go back in a heartbeat if I could.
Jenna Byrne is an associate editor for Hoard’s Dairyman. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2022, majoring in agricultural business with an emphasis in communications and marketing. She grew up on her family’s dairy farm near Neillsville, Wis.
