I had 18 years to prepare for this moment. My parents prepared me, my high school prepared me, my friends prepared me, my "guide to college" book prepared me. Yet when my 8am alarm went off on the first day of my freshman year at IU, I was sound asleep. I slept and slept and slept. When I woke up at 11am I realized that I missed my first two classes of freshman year.
HOW did this happen? (I also still haven't told my parents.) I was bawling. I failed myself. I failed my parents. My professors were going to hate me. My college was over. I ruined everything.
I ran down the hall and banged on my Residence Assistant's door until she opened it. Her name was Jo and she was a godsend. She reassured me that I wasn't the first person in the world to mess up like this (although I was convinced that I was). Jo told me to email my professors and explain what happened, admit my wrong, and then ask what I missed. She also told me to check Oncourse, our online website of all our classes, and check their office hours. I should schedule an appointment with those professors and start anew with a good foot forward.
My professors responded to my email within the hour. They were both gracious, helpful, and excused my amateur absence. When I went to their office hours I was nervous and anxious, however they both laughed, handed me the syllabus' for their classes, and reassured me.
Within 24 hours I went from thinking I that I messed up my freshman year to already loving two of my professors and feeling right at home at IU. Yes I messed up, but the resources handed to me were incredible. I easily could have an RA who didn't care, two unforgivable professors, and a miserable semester. I'm grateful that I picked this school and that I now can laugh at my freshman year self.
Other Freshman year experiences: