[deveri03]

I have recently been excepted to a university. I started living on my own away from my parents a year and a half ago. I am very nervous about moving to a new area. I have one friend that is going with me, I am not the best a making new friends. I am very quiet and artistic and sometimes seen as weird at first. I have lived in the area I am living in for four years now and have been in a relationship for three years and we are going to put it on hold because our schooling is taking us different places. If anyone has any advice on what I can do to make the transition easier and just be less stress now and when I get there.
Thanks
Dev

[Perna]

Hey, Dev, how brave of you! I think, no matter what, it's going to be a bit scary since it's "new". Sometimes I can help my anxiety by reframing what I'm doing as "exciting" rather than "scary"? The feelings can be almost the same :-) Look forward to the adventure and opportunities rather than the worries? There will be classes to sit in and you are bound to like some/meet a student or two to say "Hi" to along the way. Think of how many friends you have now, why should you have less at a new place?

I think it's great you have one friend going with you; suggest that the two of you go out together occasionally to things on campus/in town, etc. where you can maybe meet other people. I always find it easier with a friend around too.

The biggest thing that helps me in a new place is remembering it takes time for it to be "my" place. When I start a new job, it takes me six months to get use to the job and people! I know that about myself so I give myself time.

[muse]

We're kind of in the same boat! This might not be great advice, but remember that you've already been living away from your parents--you know how to take care of yourself and more or less run your own life, which is an excellent place to start. That should give you a real feeling of confidence! There are a lot of people who have trouble with just that.

Also, if you're quiet and artistic, are you going to be in an art program? If not, I'd suggest trying to find activities at your school that speak to your interests and the things you enjoy, so that you can be in an environment you're comfortable in (the art world) while dealing with being around new people. You may even find some folks who are very much like you.

Good luck and best wishes!!