The time has come. College starts in just a few weeks, you’ve received your acceptance letter, paid tuition, paid fees and contracted for housing; while you’re extremely excited, a nagging anxiety never lets you rest easy. You’re afraid to leave the place you’ve called home all through high school, the friends you’ve made and the life you know.

It’s perfectly normal. Everyone goes through it, and Iowa State has almost limitless resources available to help make that transition easier.

There’s not one student here who hasn’t had the college jitters, and everyone has his or her story of how they eased into college life.

The first step for any incoming Cyclone is to sign up for Destination Iowa State, a social event for incoming freshmen. During Destination Iowa State, each student joins a group of other new students led by an upperclassman team leader. Groups enjoy a catered dinner, icebreaker games, various carnival attractions and a comedian.

Registration forms for the free event are available online and during your on-campus summer orientation.

Aman Kaur, freshman in family consumer science education and studies, said Destination Iowa State helped her immensely in getting used to campus, making new friends and realizing she wasn’t alone in her anxiousness.

“I really got to know campus and my fellow peers,” Kaur said.

“I had a really great team leader. We still stay in contact even though [Destination] ended forever ago. She helped me master MLA [Modern Language Association] style and other things … it’s definitely a great experience that got me oriented to college life.”

The start of classes is always a stressful time, especially if you are doing it for the first time.

Angelia Schmidt, sophomore in pre-journalism and mass communication, said the best thing you can do is go introduce yourself to your professors during office hours.

“Introduce yourself the first day of class,” Schmidt said.

“You may feel a little awkward and not know what to say, but I’ve found that even in large lecture halls, your professors remember you. I attended a club meeting advised by my sociology professor and ended up joining the club and making a difference on campus through the work we did. That same professor and I are now working on two research papers together, and my relationship with her has opened up a lot of doors.”

Iowa State also has resources to help international and multicultural students get used to college life.

The International Students and Scholars Office, located in the Memorial Union, is a great place to go regarding immigration, personal, financial and cultural issues.

The Multicultural Student Affairs office, also in the Union, helps students from different backgrounds assimilate to life at Iowa State while providing a hub to meet other students from the same background.

“Your MLO is a good go-to person for all kinds of issues,” Kaur said.

“They’re great people to talk to. I’ve also been to the MSA office for help in many areas. They’re both very good resources.”

Schmidt stresses caution when going out and offers a few tips to protect yourself.

“Use the buddy system. It works,” Schmidt said. “Make sure you charge your cell phone before you go out and that someone knows where you are. Don’t walk alone at night, and don’t accept drinks from strangers.”

“In high school, you want to change who you are,” Schmidt said. “In college, you start to understand who you are, and somewhere along the way, you accept that. There are too many people here for there to be a social hierarchy. Learn who you are and be that person. You’ll find that people respect the designated driver at a party more than the drunk guy doing the Cupid Shuffle and spilling his beer all over the place.”

Don’t be nervous. You won’t be tossed to the wolves when you move in. Take advantage of the resources Iowa State offers, and most importantly, get out and make friends. Have fun. You know what they say: College is the best four years of your life.