Starting School

[Sweetfudge]

Ok so technically, I'm no longer a "teen" (22 years old...) but I figured there were more people in this area that could relate to me. I am starting school next week at the local community college and am rather nervous about it. I attended a year of college 3 years ago, where I failed miserably (because I met my husband-to-be), and haven't been to school since. I am not sure if I will do well in school, and if I can handle the work load. Also, I'm not taking a heavy schedule this semester, but I will be there over the lunch hour. What suggestions do you guys have about lunch and school? Bring my own? Snack until I get home? I also haven't experienced the "social" atmosphere since marrying, and I'm concerned about that. How do I act? lol I don't want to look like a big nerd, but I also don't want to get caught up in trying to be "cool". Anybody with any advice, thx!!!

[penguin]

My suggestion (as a fellow married 22 year old) is to just be yourself at college. Try not to be too shy and make an effort to meet people. At a community college especially, where many of the students are non-traditional, you'll probably find that you are in no way alone.

As far as eating goes, salads with chicken or some other meat are a perennial favorite. I often eat tuna salad on a lundberg rice cake or on a corn cake. Another option is leftovers from the night before. I tend to snack throughout the day (I'm hypoglycemic, too), so you can always find me with fruit, string cheese, veggies, yogurt, or gluten-free granola bars. I like taking things that don't need to be reheated, and you can keep a soft lunchbox with a cold pack in your backpack.

I know you'll do great, as long as you believe you can!

[Ashley]

Unless your college can guantree completely gluten-free meals and no chance of CC, I would bring my lunch ( as I do at highschool). I love things like red kidney beans and rice, fresh fruit and veggies, peanut-butter in the cups, etc. Snack in class, if you can. It helps.

Relax. It's hard, I'm not shy, but, I'm so incredibly different that's it was hard for me awhile to become more open and make friends. Like Chelse said, be yourself. Why act different around people to make friends? It's uncomfortable and it's something you can't do forever. Be yourself and I think you'll do well. Good luck

-Ash

[Kyalesyin]

If I were you, I'd take your own meals in. Its doesn't take much to boil up some rice the night before.

My wife is in university, and she found that nobody actually knew what was in half the food on offer at the student eateries, and nobody could give her a positive yes/no. I'll no doubt have the same problem with seafood and caffeine when I go back to college.

There are loads of simple things you can do- Rice with spicy mayonase and bacon is a good one. We tend to make our own spciy mayonase just using a generic cajun spice mix, and bacon keeps ok for a day or so if you grill it well.

The important thing is that you don't let it worry you. None of my friends understood at first when I was in school that buying me a coffee without asking was just about the cruelst thing they could do, but if you laugh it off people relax. These days, people point things out when I got for them and warn me off.

[kbtoyssni]

I'd bring my own food, too. You need good brain food to do well in school. I always had trouble studying and paying attention if I hadn't eaten well.

Just act like yourself. I doubt you'll seem like a nerd. Everyone in your classes is taking them because they're interested in the subject, so it's not like you're going to be any more nerdy than anyone else. Try to meet some people in the first week so you'll have some study buddies. I know it can be hard to introduce yourself to random people. Have some questions ready to ask people so you can strike up a conversation.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

[justjane]

You are way too cute. I am a college kid too (just north of you!) and feeling a bit overwhelmed as well. My advice is that you will definatly fit in. Most of the Utah girls are married or soon-to-be by the time they're 22 and so you'll be in the same boat as everyone else. You will make friends and will not be nerdy, don't worry!!

I would also take your lunch and what might be fun is if you got a group of friends together and bring a special thing every week, like Thai Tuesday or French Friday and make it so that you'd bring the kinds of foods they serve in that area of the world that day, gluten-free of course. It is just a thought.

Don't worry, you'll be fine .

[quantumsugar]

I can definitely relate... I had anxiety attacks when I started college, I was terrified. One of the things I like about community college is that, if you're shy, you don't have to make friends right away. Which means that, if you act like yourself, you'll attract friends that like *you*. And community college is so diverse... most people probably won't care if you're "trying to be cool" or coming into the class in whatever you slept in. Joining a club helps, too...

As for the food, I definitely bring my own food, I don't trust what they have (even the cut fruit) not to be contaminated. Here's a list of some food ideas (I like bringing canned foods, 'cause then I don't have to cook):

*Tuna

*Canned/fresh veggies and fruit

*Stir-fry leftovers

*Tortilla chips and cheese (tastes kinda like cheese and crackers)

*Rice

*Yogurt

*Potatoes