A college campus is kind of like a small town. There are plenty of organizations to get involved with and resources to help you find your way. With a little experience, you get familiar with the environment and the people you see every day. It’s not too hard to find out what’s going on if you know where to look and who to ask. As a freshman just coming out of high school, though, you might feel like a small fish in a big pond. 

If you’re used to your parents taking care of things like registration for school and related activities, getting where you need to go, or even laundry, your first semester can be pretty overwhelming. Deciding to take more responsibility for yourself is an important step toward independence and good mental health. There will be challenges ahead, but with some support and some courage, you’ll make it through.

Try the following tips to become more independent while you’re in school:

• Limit your trips back home — Don’t pack up and visit home every weekend, and don’t sit in your dorm! Use the time to explore your campus and the surrounding area. Check out any local parks, your school’s athletic center, and points of interest in town. Invite your classmates to go with you. 
• Join a club or start volunteering — This is a good way to feel like part of a community and make a positive contribution. You’ll have a reason to go on outings and meet new people. With school-based organizations and volunteer work, you can take on new responsibilities in a supportive environment and even find leadership roles if you’re so inclined.
• Take responsibility for yourself — Speaking of responsibility, college is a great time to work on skills you’ll need to care for yourself as an adult. You can start with time management, finances, or basic life skills like cooking and laundry. Your parents will probably be happy to help and proud of you for stepping up, or you can always find how-to videos on YouTube.
• Choose classes that will interest and challenge you — It is possible to get through college without making too many decisions about your coursework. However, getting to know your options and making informed decisions will help you feel more engaged and challenged in a good way. Spend some time with the course catalog and talk with your adviser or more advanced students about the professors and classes that interest you. 
• Learn about on-campus resources — Knowing your resources and using them well is a key step toward independence. Learn about your school’s resources and how they help students. For example, your school might have on-campus counseling, a tutoring center, a student health center, a gym and other student services. 
• Learn to navigate the school library — You’ll inevitably have to do research for papers and projects. Yes, you can find almost anything on the internet. However, your school library is equipped with books, research databases and materials requested by your professors. It’s worth your time to learn about what’s available and how to find what you need. See if there’s an orientation you can take, or talk with a librarian.
• Ask for help when you need it — Independence isn’t about doing everything for yourself. It’s about taking ownership, advocating for yourself and getting what you need to succeed. Knowing when and how to ask for help is a sign of maturity. You might go to your adviser, mentors like professors and coaches, or a licensed clinical therapist for different kinds of support.

By this time next year, you’ll be a wiser, more experienced version of yourself. You’ll have some new skills and know your way around. The project of becoming more independent starts with a commitment to yourself. It’s a good idea to set some short-term goals that will be easy wins and some that will be more of a challenge. Then think of where you want to be a year from now and set longer-term goals. You can work backward to figure out your first steps.

In the grand scheme, being independent means understanding your own needs and making sure they are met. When you have everything you need, you can do the things that make your life meaningful. Maintaining good mental health is something you’ll work on for the rest of your life. There may be times when you need more support than an outpatient therapist can provide. At Lightfully U, we provide primary mental health care for college students aged 18-25. We offer multiple levels of care to help you through your most difficult moments.

Do you have questions about navigating mental health care? Contact us today. Let’s talk about what’s going on and what steps you can take from here.