Was College a "New Start" for you?

[KillarneyRose]

When you went off to college, did you think of it as a new start? Did you use the opportunity to "clean house" and develop a new image? Or did you continue to look/act/whatever the same way you did in high school? I started wondering about this while I was reading a rush thread.


As for me, I guess my image (for lack of a better word) didn't change much between high school and college. So many people I knew went to Pitt with me that it would have been hard had I wanted to change anything. Plus, I had made a point of going to Oakland (the part of town where Pitt is) to hang out on weekends so a lot of greeks already knew me.

On the other hand, I found out that another Mod went to high school with a girl I used to know who went to college with my ex-boyfriend. She was *shocked* when I told her that this girl was considered to be this gorgeous goddess, desired by all who knew her (ok, I exaggerated, but not much! lol) The mod told me this same goddess was bookish, bordering on nerdish in high school. But when she went to college 2,000+ miles away, she somehow managed to shed that image. (either that, or standards at her college weren't as high as at her high school)

I think college could be a great opportunity for someone who wants to reinvent him/herself, but I suppose you'd have to choose a school far from home. What do you all think?

[WCUgirl]

That's exactly what I did...I grew up in FL, but went to school 12 hours away in NC. I had a completely different life at WCU. I hated high school and most of the people who went there with me (except for my closest friends), so I didn't care to stay at an in-state school...mom was pretty mad when I turned down all the scholarships to UF and FSU for not as much scholarship $$$ and out-of-state tuition!

But I had such an awesome experience in college that I'm glad I chose what I did. I wouldn't be the person I am now if I had gone to a different school.

ETA: I probably also wouldn't have met my husband!

[honeychile]

I'm probably the wrong person to ask, for a couple reasons. I was only 16 when I graduated from high school, and even though I had a scholarship to "a major school in the South", my parents didn't feel that I was mature enough to live away from home. And in retrospect, I wasn't. I went to Pitt with the idea that I'd go for one year, then transfer.

I've often referred to Pitt as Grades 13, 14, 15, and 16.

[Rudey]

For me, perfection started at an early age and I decided I needed to stay perfect in college.

-Rudey
--So no

[33girl]

This is exactly what I did...and I only had to go 200 miles away, not 2000! The majority of my HS class went to IUP, UPJ or Penn State which is why I did not. So it really was easy to pick a school where I didn't know people.

There were only 2 people from my graduating class who went to college w/ me and they were guys...so they weren't going to make catty remarks about what a geek I was in high school (well, maybe one of them would LOL). I remember at my 5 year class reunion the amount of people looking google-eyed at my "de-geekification" got to be a bit much and I said to them "Thank God you guys are here, you're used to seeing me like this."

I changed my looks, but as far as the way I acted, it really didn't change much. The main thing that changed was I wasn't dealing with people who didn't remember my fashion mistakes from 7th grade. So my image changed, I really did not. I just was fortunate enough to find a place where I could be myself and it was a good thing rather than a bad thing.

[IvySpice]

College wasn't just a new start for me; it was a revolution. I went to my HS reunion and many, many people who'd known me well did not recognize me. I look different, I feel different, and I act different -- and in every case, the change was for the better. Everyone from my HS went to college, mostly out of state, so there would have been a fresh start almost no matter where I went, but the fact that the college I chose was a perfect fit for me made all the difference. It was NOTHING like high school. Within a couple of months, that college had worked miracles in terms of my self-confidence, happiness, and sociability.

[cntryZTA5]

College was a new start for me. In high school, I was very introverted and only talked to my close friends. I didn't date at all either. My friends were a part of the "popular" crowd, I was kinda the tag a long.


Only 1 girl from my high school went to college with me. I think I was able to become the person I had always wanted to be because I was no longer in someone else's shadow (my so-called best friend in high school was homecoming queen etc). I was able to date and go out with guys, where in high school I was never given the time of day.

I think joining ZTA was the best thing I could have done for myself in college. I believe being in ZTA helped me to develop into the person I am today! I am a lot happier and a better person for it.

[valkyrie]

I don't think I changed much when I started college. However, I went to a school where only two other people with whom I graduated went -- I didn't want to go to the same school where everyone from my H.S. went and end up hanging out with high school friends in college. I had to start from scratch making new friends, and I'm glad I had that experience.

Kind of, but in a different sense than the others have mentioned.

I went to high school in a *really* small, *really* naive town. When I went to college (still in a small town, but one whose student body alone was 25 times larger than my home town) my eyes were opened to a lot of other viewpoints and ways of life than what I was used to, and my perspective changed accordingly.

As far as my personality goes... in high school I was kind of B group... not super popular, but well liked. I was kind of quiet and I'll admit... kind of strange.. I think part of the reason I was so well accepted was that I was from one of the right families, which was everything where I grew up... if I'd been from a different family I probably would have gotten picked on instead of just being "unique"

In college, though.... I shed some of the awkwardness, some of the "strangeness" (though I'm sure some would like to argue I'm still plenty strange), and gained a TON of self-confidence. Because of that, the way I interacted with people was a lot different... I took better care of myself, was friendlier to others, etc.

I went to a college 3 hours away from my hometown, but it might as well have been 3000 miles. No one from my hometown went to my school (most didn't bother going to college). If some of them had, it probably would have hindered my change... so I'm glad they stayed away!

[astroAPhi]

I got as far away as I possibly could from my high school. When you grow up with the same people for 14 years, they can really make your life a living hell for mistakes that you made when you were 4 years old.

Senior year of high school my friends all treated me like dirt, so I really spent a lot of time alone. Though, I will admit, in high school I lost my ugly duckling image. That was a nice change, but no one I went to school with would recognize it because they refused to change their image of me. This was a big reason my frends treated me so awful. They were tired of me "dragging them down".

Unfortunately, I gained a lot of weight when I went back to college, but I chose a tech school and it was a lot easier for me to be accepted because I was WAY more well-rounded than some of the kids who came here. I actually left my room and participated in activities. So a lot of people on campus know me as a leader, but if you told kids back home that, they'd be shocked.

I'm so glad I came here instead of UIUC. The closest classmate is 5 hours away, at FSU.

[valkyrie]

Originally posted by astroAPhi
I'm so glad I came here instead of UIUC. The closest classmate is 5 hours away, at FSU.

That's so funny -- I was avoiding UIUC as well since that's where most of my high school classmates went.

[KSUViolet06]

OMG yes!!! I wasn't popular or a geek. I was in the middle crowd. I took a step out and when to Kent when 90% of my graduating class went to Akron (though Kent is a mere 30 minutes further).

I also chose to stay on campus while everyone else I knew lived at home. It cost more, but I wanted the experience.

I didn't stand out a lot in H.S. I didn't get anything I really truly wanted like Class Secretary, Student Council Prez, etc.

I wanted to be greek when I came here freshman year, but I was scared I wouldn't get who I wanted (see above about never winning). So I waited and Voila!

Tri-Sigma is a place where I feel I can stand belong and express myself, unlike in high school when I never got to be a part of anything I felt would be good for me.

[Rio_Kohitsuji]

Yes, college was a main part of making myself the way I am today. I hated high school w/a passion! If I wasn't in band I wasn't happy At my high school you can only get into Honors programs, etc only if you have the "right last name". So, when I came to college they didn't care what your last name was I got involved early on w/Greek life and really got involved in all the programs around here. Also, when I first started dating my boyfriend it got me even more into the college, it didn't hurt that Teke's are the "it" fraternity on campus

Coming to college really let me find out who I was and how I was going to get there. It was one of the best decisions in my life

[ISUKappa]

I don't know if I made a "New Start" as much as I was able to evolve a lot more than I did in high school. I got along with most everyone in high school, with a class of 100 you pretty much have to, but I wasn't in any one clique. Out of my class, maybe 40 went to 4-year schools and only 3-4 came to Iowa State. People didn't know I was a music/drama/band "geek." They didn't know the overinvolved super achiever I was in high school. I was still me, just in a larger fishpond.

It was also a harsh lesson in reality for me because I learned I didn't know it all, I actually had to work for things in college and I couldn't do everything I thought I could. I learned I had some boundaries but that I was stronger than I thought I was. I had to suffer through bitter disappointments by people I called my "sisters" and learned how to dress, act and look better. (the dressing/looking part is still evolving. I have much better fashion sense now than I ever did in hs or college)

I think my 10-year hs reunion will be interesting. I don't get home much anymore, even though it's not too far away, and haven't really heard much what's going on with other classmates. I'm sure they all have the same idea of me that they did in hs and I can't wait to see how some of them have changed.

Originally posted by Rio_Kohitsuji
At my high school you can only get into Honors programs, etc only if you have the "right last name".

If it makes you feel any better.... those kids had a hard fall when they got into college or into "the real world". I remember the first time something didn't go my way and nobody cared my last name was G--------, if the kids from your school were like me, they got a good kick in the ass