College means many new things. One of those new things is living on your own, away from your family and friends. Many of us struggle to become comfortable on our own. Suddenly, we have bills to pay, groceries to buy and laundry to do. It can be a stressful time for us.

“This is a life transition, and like any other transition, it can be very difficult,” said Tiffany Iskander, psychologist in Student Counseling Service.

But there are ways to make this transition easy. Iskander goes on to advise students to go out and find clubs to join or other student activities.

Personally, I’m lucky enough to have a roommate going through the same thing I am. We can lean on each other a little. The jobs we have provide us with socialization, as well as the atmosphere of campus.

That doesn’t mean I still don’t miss home. When I left home I lost my safety net — my parents. They were always there for me whenever I started doubting myself or if I became too stressed. Getting over that has been the toughest thing for me.

“It was going from a family, to living with a person I didn’t know,” said Jenny Lafrenz, sophomore in design. She also has some advice for incoming freshmen, “Don’t be afraid to go out and do stuff on your own. Go out and make a ton of new friends.”

If you ever start feeling alone or find yourself stressing out, odds are, you aren’t alone. Jamie Tworkowski, founder of To Write Love on Her Arms, once said, “You will need other people and you will need to be that other person to someone else.” So go out there and be that person, not just for someone else, but for you as well.