Hey guys! I’m Taryn and I’m a marketing major from Liverpool, NY. I transferred from St. Bonaventure University, a small private school with about 2,400 students total. Coming to SUNY Oswego, which is over 3 times the size of St. Bonaventure, I wasn’t really sure how I would handle it. However, I’ve found only good things to say about the school, and it seems like I find something better I like every day. A school the size of Oswego (compared to smaller schools) can seem kind of overwhelming at first. I’m not used to this many kids! I think it’s great though. There’s a lot of diversity and so many opportunities. You can really be whoever you want to be.
I was placed in Onondaga Hall with 5 other suite mates. They were all close friends before I moved in, so I wasn’t sure how I would fit into their friendship. The minute my parents left, I felt very awkward being the new kid and I almost wanted to cry. I can be shy when I’m uncomfortable, and my immediate reaction was to keep to myself. However, I’m at a new school with new people – it’s a fresh start, so why not make the best of it? Luckily, everyone was so welcoming! I’ve never met such nice people who wanted to help me and show me around. They introduced me to their friends, answered my questions, and made every effort to get to know me. We’ve only been moved in for about a month, and I already feel like we’ve known each other for years!
Being new on campus can be totally overwhelming. You’re probably going to be nervous, you’re probably going to feel awkward, and you’re probably going to want to run right back to your parents (I’m almost 21 and I still had that feeling!) My advice would be to not hold back. You have a fresh start so you can be anyone you want to be. If you were shy in high school/your previous college, or if you never got involved, or if you were never the most popular kid – nobody has to know! You decide your future from here on out. Make friends with anyone and everyone. Sometimes the person you thought you would never even talk to can end up being your best friend!
