From Camp War Eagle to Reality

Orientation is exciting, fast-paced, and full of that “this is what college is supposed to feel like” energy. You’re told all about the place you’ll call home for the next four years and you begin to visualize what your life in Auburn could look like. From learning chants in Jordan-Hare to getting the famed Toomer's Corner lemonade, maybe for the first time, college starts to feel picture perfect with new friends, new places, and new possibilities. You fast forward a month or two and your sitting in your dorm room, your family just left and your thinking to yourself “what now?”. Classes, schedules, and responsibilities start to show up, and suddenly it doesn’t feel like a highlight reel anymore. The goal isn’t to keep the high going, it’s to find a rhythm that actually works for you day to day.

Post Orientation/Pre-Class Stress

After meeting a ton of people and taking in a ton of information, it’s normal to feel tired or overwhelmed. Your social battery is drained, even if you had fun. It can start to feel like you have to do everything, every event, every opportunity, every invite. That pressure adds up fast. Everyone always tells you, “Say yes to everything,” but that’s not always realistic. You don’t need to say yes to everything, you need to say yes to the right things.

Former Camp War Eagle Counselor, Ava Amore, shared helpful ways to go about this:

“Say yes to things you are familiar and comfortable with, that you know will bring you joy. But I also suggest you get out of your comfort zone. Say yes to something new, and if it wasn’t enjoyable for you, be proud of your bravery and you can say no next time” … “Never feel bad for turning down an invite to something you won’t be the best version of yourself at."

A full schedule isn’t a bad thing but leave intentional time to be able to pause and enjoy the things that you are doing. Resting or choosing a quieter night doesn’t mean you’re missing out, it means you’re paying attention to what you actually need.

Managing Comparison

In the first few weeks, it can seem like everyone has already found their people, but that is far from true. Most people are still figuring it out; they’re just doing it quietly. During Ava’s first week, “it seemed like everyone had a friend group formed except for [her]. Truth is, the people you hang around with your first week will probably not end up being your best friends. They might, but give yourself time and grace when it comes to meeting new people. There are way more people feeling the same way as you than you think.”

Friendships take time, give yourself some grace when it comes to meeting people. Getting involved in things like campus events, residence hall gatherings, or clubs can help, but connection doesn’t happen overnight. It’s also okay to not do something, even if it feels like everyone else is going. Choosing rest or time to yourself doesn’t set you back socially, it helps you show up better when you’re around others.

Healthy Habits

Starting a few basic habits early can make the transition into college feel a lot smoother. Not because you need a “perfect routine,” but because establishing habits to take care of yourself now will make it easier when life gets busy.

• Movement: Set aside time a few days a week to get movement. This could be as simple as going on a walk around campus, but planning your exercise at the start of the semester will set you up for success when workloads get heavy and schedules get busy.

• Hydration: Set a goal for the amount of water you want to drink in a day. When you’re running from place to place it’s easy to forget to hydrate. I had to set a schedule of how much I should’ve had by what time; one bottle before lunch, and two before going to bed. This makes it easier to keep track rather than trying to drink it all at dinner time.

• Sleep Schedule: Enter the semester with a set time you go to bed each night. It will inevitably change from weeknights to weekends, during big projects, or finals, but consistency when you can supports your mental and physical health throughout the semester.

• Eating Habits: Try not to skip meals. Classes can get overwhelming and your days will fill up, but regularly fueling your body makes a noticeable difference in your energy, mood, and focus.

The post-orientation phase can feel like a letdown if you expected college to always feel like Camp War Eagle. That doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong—it just means real life is starting. You don’t need to have everything figured out right away. Lean on the people around you, ask upperclassmen for help when you need it, and take advantage of the resources available to you.

“Know your worth, and remember that you only have one life and one college experience. Make the most out of it. Don’t wish for time to fly by, because by the time you’re a final semester senior, you’re going to wish you could be a freshman and do it all over again.”

Be well, Auburn.