The document discusses strategies for first-year college students to develop a strong support system and sense of community during their transition to college. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining connections to friends and family from home, getting involved in campus activities and organizations, managing stress through time management and self-care, and seeking mental health support for challenges like homesickness and social anxiety. Personal anecdotes from students share how they developed communities through religious groups, intramural sports, Greek life, and finding communities within their majors and interests.

1. Life Transition
Cameron Archer, Madison
Bostdorff, Elizabeth Peay,
Madeline Fortner, Ashley Blocker

2. Activity
https://create.kahoot.it/share/life-transition/4d833b87-3682-45e6-80be-81255d38a560

3. The Importance of Community
● The transition to college can be difficult because of all the new experiences, but a strong
community of friends can ease the new life stage
● A social support system increases the positive outcomes & overall satisfaction in the
transition into college (Baker, 2013)
● While stress is often high during the first year of college, a strong community helps
students have lower stress levels
● Strong social support during the first year of college is also associated with high overall
well-being, motivation in academics, and a greater sense of belonging (Taylor, Doane, &
Eisenberg, 2013)
● Finding community is difficult for many first year students! It can take time to develop new
relationships and feel settled in a new place

4. Utilize Current Support System
● When friendships are still developing, it can be helpful to continue to connect with old
friends and family. Reach out to the people that love you!
● It can be easy to expect close and deep relationships at the start of college, but new
relationships take time.
● Remember to call parents & other family members once in awhile! Your support system
back home can help encourage during the difficult moments.
● Keeping in contact with family increases positive outcomes during the transition of
college (Rogers et al., 2018)

5. Campus Involvement
● Becoming involved on a college campus can
help create opportunities to meet new
people, volunteer within the community, and
purse hobbies
● There is a positive correlation between
student engagement on campus and
academic success (Webber, Krylow, & Zhang,
2013)
● Each campus has many different
organizations, clubs, ministries, and sports
teams to get involved
● Try not to become overwhelmed by all the
options & simply invest time where you are
interested!

6. Campus Involvement
There are many ways to find your place in
college!
● Involvement fairs display manys
different student organizations
● Being open to attending new & different
events
● Ask friends about the clubs &
organizations that they enjoy
● Be intentional with the individual who
live in your dorm
● See what opportunities there are within
your major & future career interests
Different individuals have different amounts
of time to invest in the opportunities on
campus.
Be honest with yourself on the difficulty of
classes, time devoted to a job, and how much
free time you enjoy before you commit to a
organization. Everyone’s life & needs look very
different!
Invest well in the areas where you are
commitment & the people within the
organization.

7. The Importance of Time Management
● There are a lot of possible options on college campuses to get involved in but it is more about
quality than quantity when it comes to the number of things you are involved in
● Being able to manage your time results in more positive outcomes and helps reduce stress
● Managing time looks different for all people so it is important to know what you can handle
and know when to say no
● There is a fine line between taking on a lot and taking on too much (Goldsmith, 2010)
● Overcommitting and being involved in too much often result in burning out and can affect
one’s happiness overall which can affect one’s well-being

8. How to Manage Your Time Well
● Set goals
● Prioritize your tasks and commitments wisely
● Be okay with saying no
● Plan ahead and allow time in your schedule for unexpected events
● Limit the amount of activities you are involved in
● https://youtu.be/rUO8Qvcs7cY

9. Nutrition● New eating habits
○ Healthy snacks
● Quick and easy meals are not always nutritious
● Convenience is not always best
○ Walking vs the bus/driving
○ Fast food vs cooking
● Alcohol
○ Drink in moderation
○ Late night eating
● Vitamins
○ Stress and college illnesses
● Sleep schedule
○ 7-9 hours
○ Work space separate
● Important for physical health, focus, overall
wellness
○ Mood
○ Interactions with others
○ Mental health
According to WebMD, on average, a
first-year college student will gain at
least 5% of their body weight. On
average, about 10 pounds, per person.

10. Nutrition
● Important for physical health, focus,
overall wellness
○ Mood
○ Interactions with others
○ Mental health

11. Mental Health
College poses a lot of new challenges that
can have an effect on your mental health
-Some common challenges new college
students face that can affect their mental
health are issues with homesickness, being
away from the family and friends for the first
time, social anxiety, and higher stress from
school
-Being homesick and missing your friends and
family is completely normal! Try to decorate
your dorm room with things that remind you
of home and make you feel comfortable.
Don’t forget pictures!
-Try to set up a time for a weekly phone call of
facetime with your parents or siblings or bffs
in from high school

12. Mental Health
School Stress
-Take a breaks during studying! Set a timer for 30 minutes and do something you enjoy!
-play a game on your phone
- go for a walk outside
-call your mom
-watch your favorite show on netflix (just one I know its hard)
-do a puzzle
-bake something
-journal or read a book
-listen to a podcast
-draw or paint
- Try mediation!
- There are tons of wonderful apps with
guided breathing exercises that are
proven to help with stress
- The Calm App is great!

13. Mental Health
Social Anxiety
-Have someone in your dorm or in one of your classes go
to social events with you so you are not alone!
-Go to events that interest you! You will more than likely
find other people who like the same things that you do
-Don’t put so much pressure on yourself and leave if you
need to! If you get overwhelmed or aren’t enjoying
yourself it’s ok to leave and try again another time
-Remember there are so many other first years that don’t
know anyone else either, you’re not alone!

14. Personal Experience
● After trying out many different clubs the first few
weeks of school, I chose to stick to one group and
build my community there
● I was living close to home so I continued to build my
community with my family and friends that were at
home
● I played intramural sports to both grow my
community and stay physically active
● I managed my time by finding what was important to
me and limited what I said yes to, to allow me to do
well in school and to limit my stress

15. Personal Experience
After settling in my dorm during the first week of
college, I began to look into different student
organizations and one that really impacted my life
was Wesley at the University of North Georgia in
Dahlonega.
I went on retreats, made friends with so many people
at the Wesley house, and spent most of my weekends
with these people from Wesley who are now lifelong
friends.
Also, the campus gym was walking distance from my
dorm, so I would go most days and it was a stress
relief for me and I also took advantage of the group
fitness classes!
I would also go home on some weekends to spend
time with family and friends back home in Athens.

16. Personal Experience
I started as a freshman at the University of Georgia.
My parents only live an hour and a half away and my
brother lives in Athens so I have been able to spend time
with my family throughout college.
By living on campus, I ended up meeting some of my close
friends who lived on my floor in the dorms.
During my freshman year, I struggled to commit to specific
organizations because of the many options and I feared I
would not have time for school. Therefore my community
in college did not truly develop until my sophomore year.

17. Personal ExperienceI started at Florida State University, and started to figure
out what my life was going to be away from home. I knew I
wanted to be involved, because I was in high school, but I
wasn’t sure what type of involvement that would be.
The first club I joined was a Pre-PA club. This was a club for
students who were on the medical track, and wanted to
hear from other students and professionals in the field of
interest.
To remain healthy, me and my friends would take the free
classes offered at the campus gym. They had so many
varieties offered, from yoga to cycling to dance. It was a
cheap and fun way to stay active.
My second year, I got involved in greek life. I did not know
anyone when I first got to FSU, so this really helped me
find my group and it gave me many opportunities outside
of friendships.

18. Personal Experience
I started off at UGA as a freshman and joined a sorority and participated in Relay for
Life.
I struggled a lot with depression and anxiety, ended up medically withdrawing from
school twice, and became a part time student so I could continue to get the help I
needed to finish school. I changed my major several times during this period and
my family and childhood friends were my biggest support system
When I became a full time student again I joined UGA Miracle, got involved in a
church and joined a small group which have given me a wonderful support system
in Athens.
It is so important to realize that everyone struggles in college and that everyone’s
college experience is different! Embrace your story!