Transitioning from High School to university is a big step. Some people feel very excited, but along with this excitement are nerves. Move in day is very close and it is possible that you are feeling anxious and thrilled to start University. It is important to know that everyone deals with the transition differently, but here are a few tips that you might be able to use to make that transition easier. These may seem very obvious, but they work!

1) Believe in the power of hello! The people you will be meeting this year could possibly be your new best friends. It is often the people you meet in your first year could become your lifelong friends. These could be the people you have in your wedding party when you're older! Take the time to say hello to people you see on campus, and throughout Orientation. That "hello" could lead to a lifelong friendship.

2) Try something you have never done before. Audition for a play, enter a talent show, cheer at the top of your lungs in a public place, try sushi, join a club/council or learn to ride a unicycle. University is a great opportunity to have a fresh start and truly discover what YOU are all about. Going outside your comfort zone is an important step in that discovery to determine what you are capable of.

3) Have fun! This seems obvious, but university is four or more years of your life, and it is important to enjoy those years too. You are about to embark on an incredible life changing adventure. Let the unknown things ahead excite you and make the most of every opportunity you can to relax and have fun! Balance is important part of being successful in university. Too much focus on fun can be detrimental, but so can too much focus on school can be too. Figuring out that balance early can be extremely helpful.

4) Know your campus safety resources: the Guelph campus offers SO MUCH to its students in terms of resources that promote safety and well-being. Groups like the First Response Team, Safe Walk, Campus Community Police, Desk Services and Student Health Services to name a few, are here to make our campus safe and are definitely worth tapping into throughout your university career, whether you live in residence or not!

5) Meet with your program counsellor part way through first semester...and every semester after that until you graduate. Program counsellors are invaluable and extremely willing to help you succeed academically. They are so knowledgeable and love to share what they know with you. Meeting with yours can give you clarity about courses, course load and academic paths to graduation. Search "program counsellor" in the search tab at www.uoguelph.ca to find yours!

6) Check out opportunities for fun fitness classes at the Athletic Centre! Regular exercise not only helps to keep us in shape, but it's a great stress-reliever and can also help us meet new friends! From yoga, to dance to swimming, our campus AC probably has something for you! Check out http://gryphons.ca/sports/2011/5/10/GEN_0510115938.aspx?tab=gryphoncatal... for the Gryphons Catalogue!

7) Make sure you go to as many O-week events as you can. There will be so many events being run during O-week that everyone will enjoy. Some of these events also come with free food, so it makes attending these events all the better. Most first year students want to come and meet people and O-week is a great place to meet people that might not be in your residence hall.

8 ) Make a connection with your RA as well as the rest of your section. These will be the people that you are spending the next 8 months with. This might even be where you meet you next best friend. Residence is a great place to meet people so make sure that you are making the most of your first year experience. Your RA is there to try and make your first year the best one it could be. Make sure you attend meetings and events that your RA plans as well. They will be working very hard to try and build strong connections and it helps when students want to know their RA too!

9) Be sure to go to class and stay on top of school work. This may seem like an obvious one, but it is extremely important to make sure that you go. This will also be another place for you to meet new people, some of whom might have the same interests as you. It is possible these people will be in your classes for the rest of your undergrad. So when you go to your first couple of classes be sure to introduce yourself to new people.

Remember that University is about education, but it is not the only thing. It’s also about meeting people and making friendships. No one can go through university by themselves, so be sure to meet people and find new friends. These people will be there to help support you, not only in the transition from High school, but all through you time here at Guelph. What is awesome about university is that most people are in the same boat, leaving home and wanting to meet new people. Make sure you take an active role to make this happen!