What I Wish I Knew My First Semester at Tulane

People always say college is where you “find yourself”: you’ll meet friends, join clubs you enjoy, and figure out your path. Before I started Tulane, I imagined my first semester would be just like that. I expected it would take some time to settle in, but I thought there would be a moment when everything made sense, and I’d feel like I belonged.

But during my first semester, I often wondered if everyone else had it all figured out before I did. Some people seemed to know exactly what they wanted to study, and others had already found big friend groups by the second week. I was still trying to remember where my classes were and hoping the people I ate dinner with yesterday would want to hang out again.

I was excited for a fresh start, but I also felt pressure to make every moment count. Even small choices started to feel huge. If I skipped an event, would I miss out on meeting my best friends? If I joined the wrong club, would I miss something I might have loved?

At Tulane, there are so many ways to meet people that it can feel like you need to find your place in all of them. You see people joining clubs, going through sorority or fraternity recruitment, and making plans every weekend. It’s easy to start caring about who seems popular or where you think you’re supposed to fit in. But if you spend all your time trying to fit into a certain group, you might miss the people you can really be yourself around.

If you’re in your first semester and still don’t feel settled, it’s okay to keep figuring things out. You can try a club and decide it’s not for you. You can have a great day and still miss home at night. You can be excited to be here and still feel unsure sometimes.

I used to think my first semester would show me exactly who I’d be in college. Now that I’m a sophomore, I wish I could tell my past self a few things. If you’re in your first semester now, I hope this advice helps you feel less pressure to have everything figured out.

You’ve just moved away from home and started building a life somewhere new. You don’t have to know who your closest friends will be after a few weeks, which clubs you’ll stick with, or what you’ll do after graduation. You’re still just getting started.

One awkward club meeting doesn’t mean the club isn’t right for you. If you’re interested, go back and talk to someone. It takes time for a new place to feel comfortable.

You don’t have to stay in every club you joined at the activities fair or keep the major you picked when you applied. Trying something and realizing it’s not for you is part of finding out what is.

If you enjoyed talking to someone in class, ask them to get coffee or lunch. Reaching out can feel scary, but they might be hoping someone will ask them too.

You don’t have to find your best friends, pick a career, and feel at home in just a few months. Keep trying new things and meeting people. There’s still so much of college ahead.

I know it’s hard to believe when you’re in your first semester. Back then, I had no idea how many opportunities Tulane would give me. Since then, I’ve made great friends, found things I care about, and had experiences I never expected. Being part of the Entertainment Business Network and TAMID has helped me explore my interests and meet new people, but I’ve also learned that finding your place doesn’t mean filling every hour of your day. Sometimes a walk through Audubon Park, a workout, or a few quiet minutes sitting outside on campus is exactly what I need. I’m really happy here now, but it took time for Tulane to feel like home.

I’ve also realized that being at Tulane means getting to know New Orleans, not just the campus. There are local restaurants to try, music and festivals happening around the city, and traditions like Mardi Gras and crawfish season that you get to experience with the people you’ve met here. Some of my favorite parts of college have come from saying yes to something I didn’t know about when I first arrived and seeing where it took me.

The more time I spend here, the more I appreciate the people and places that make up the community around Tulane. New Orleans has so much going on, and there are always new ways to get involved, whether that’s attending a local event, exploring a neighborhood with friends, or finding an opportunity connected to something you care about. Every time I try something new here, I find another reason to love being at Tulane.

That’s why I’d tell my first-semester self to keep going. Some of the people who will matter most to you are still strangers, and some of your best memories haven’t happened yet. Your life at Tulane doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s to be good. You don’t have to find your place right away. Give yourself time to discover it. And if you’re still waiting for college to feel like home, remember that you’re only at the beginning. You still have so many people to meet, things to try, and memories to make at Tulane.