College is Community: The Impact of a Student’s Surroundings
College is a transformative chapter in every student’s journey. It’s the first time for many of us to navigate independence, creating and managing schedules, making vital academic or professional decisions, and building our lives beyond the structure of a student’s home and classes. For many, this can be as exciting as it is overwhelming, creating a period of rapid growth and self-discovery. Just as college courses are designed to simulate professional tasks in a controlled environment, the campus itself becomes an environment for growth where students shape their routines, relationships, and sense of self. It’s during this period that one's community plays a powerful role in shaping the student experience within the university.
To be a part of the village, you have to be a villager.
Being a member of a community or forming a personal village comes at the cost of personal convenience; making an effort with peers in your environment will never be the easiest option. To stay after class and grab food with a classmate, join that student club that meets bi-weekly, or go to a networking event on campus, none of these activities can be deemed convenient.
Life while in college can feel like a whirlwind of deadlines and personal responsibilities. With students balancing classes, work, studying, and hopefully enough time for some proper self-care, it’s no wonder the idea of participating in these extracurriculars can feel like another chore. With that said, filling an already busy schedule with activities that fulfill you, and surrounding yourself with peers that support you in your goals can be the difference between a positive or a very overwhelming college experience.
What Does Community Do For You?
Transitioning to a college campus or university-style living can be jarring for many students. Like many of my peers, my transition was far from seamless. The structured, comforting routine that comes along with living at home shifts dramatically once students begin college. We go from having a majority of our days time-blocked in high school, full of faces we recognize to hold us accountable, to living independently and navigating total autonomy. This period is, understandably, very overwhelming, and we students are left with our packs of instant ramen and a dream. I transferred to GVSU in the fall of 2024, a moment I had looked forward to for some time. I hadn’t been prepared for the discomfort that came with this exciting new stage of life.
Soon into my first semester at GVSU, I began to recognize familiar faces on campus; these faces became the foundation of my personal growth. When I chose to major in Advertising and Public Relations, I was prepared to be well-adjusted to group work from the start. It was this collaborative aspect of public relations that first grabbed my attention when I found this area of study. The importance of group projects was explicit in all my courses, with almost every one centering on a major collaborative assignment. While my initial hesitation lingered, my groupmates slowly turned into study groups, those study dates quickly became casual hangouts, and, suddenly, the strangers from my classes became some of the most driven, creative people I know. Without that step outside my comfort zone, I would have missed out on a vital experience that would transform the rest of my GVSU experience.
You Are Who You Surround Yourself With, So Be Yourself.
When homesickness begins to creep back in, or your procrastination skills are so impressive they could stop campus traffic during a busy Monday morning, it is their personal village that students turn to the quickest. Through all the good and possibly the bad moments, it's the community around you that provides the support needed not only to live your life to the fullest, but also to enjoy it.
As I progress through my final year at GVSU and my first semester within GrandPR, it’s easy to get lost in the sight of a packed senior-year schedule. As August progressed and September grew closer, the anticipation of my upcoming responsibilities was very real to say the least. Now, as I look around the classrooms full of faces that I’ve come to know well, it’s their support that gives me the confidence to handle each task that comes across my to-do list and the drive never to lose the motivation I had when I began.
How can one know if someone is meant to be a part of your personal inner circle?
This clarity will come with time. We are, after all, students who are actively learning and growing from every life experience. With each confrontation, personal setback, or tough conversation, there is an underlying lesson to be learned, and each experience has a valuable takeaway. As students, we’re juggling what feels like dozens of stressful tasks at once. This stage in students’ lives should not be experienced alone. So while that volunteer event at 10 a.m. on a Saturday seems a bit too early for the weekend, or you deem the weather too chilly for that craft night at GVSU to be worth the walk, remember that no memorable moment was made from convenience.
About Haley
Haley is a Senior at GVSU, majoring in Advertising and Public Relations. She is expected to graduate this May and is excited to continue exploring professional opportunities in the Grand Rapids area. During her final year at GVSU, she hopes to make the most of her time as an Account Executive at GrandPR, strengthening her academic foundation, personal portfolio, and professional network.
