College: to know or not to know

Every graduating student attending university seeks a different experience. Some want to go far, some want to stay close. Some want urban, and some prefer rural. Regardless of the setting, an integral aspect of the “college experience” is the social aspect. While many students choose to go at it on their own, this year there are a healthy number of seniors attending the same college as their friends.

CSU Chico has a notable amount of Aragon students attending. “I made the decision to enroll before I knew that some of my friends were going, so they never really influenced my decision to go” says Colleen Hahn whose decision was largely based off Chico’s Recording Arts major. For Hahn, Chico offers a very unique opportunity. “What really hooked me to this major was the fact that I would be learning a lot about the music industry and the newer technology,” says Hahn, who plans on taking classes like music theory and electronic music composition.

Senior Laura Joyce adds says, “I had actually decided a long time ago that I wanted to go to Chico State for college. It just so happened that a lot of my friends chose to go too.”

Stephen Chan, who is going to UC Davis with several close classmates, had a similar experience. “We found out we were going to the same college after all the college acceptances came out. Both [Kyle Kim] and I chose to go to UC Davis after talking to our parents, and talking about what schools to go to.”

While going to college with friends may make adjusting to campus life a bit easier it’s still a daunting adventure.

“A huge part of going away to college is meeting new people and making friends because it’s something a lot of us aren’t used to and it’s often times very challenging for people,” says Joyce. However this doesn’t worry her too much. “I feel that the socializing isn’t going to be such an issue for me because so many of my friends from high school are going to the same college.”

However, Joyce does remark that she is not without her worries about going away. “I may be going with a few friends, but anyone who says they aren’t the slightest bit nervous about moving away is lying through their teeth.”

Hahn agrees, saying, “It definitely does make me feel less nervous knowing that I will know at least a few people, but I would say going to college in general is just pretty nerve racking.”

On the other side of the spectrum, there are also many students that are choosing to go to school without any familiar faces.

Senior Ella Riffenburg is attending Willamette University in Oregon “I choose to go to a school without my friends because I wanted a new start. I want to go to college to experience new things and meet new people without having to worry about how my old friends are feeling and fitting into the college scene,” says Riffenburg.

Overall, the prospective students are all very excited to go to college with their friends. Their expectations are positive with a hint of sadness that they will be leaving their home. “Although I am really sad that I will be leaving my closest friends and my family, I am excited to get the best college experience that I can. And I also know that I can always come back home whenever I want and that makes it more comforting. But I cannot wait to get up to Chico in August,” says Senior Andrea Nelson.

Whether students are going to college surrounded by people they already know, or whether they are braving it on their own, this period of change is full of emotions for any transitioning student.

As soon-to-be Chico Freshman Haley Matthews points out, “I am really excited for the college experience, and the fact that I am sharing it with a lot of friends makes it that much better.”