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I鈥檓 Terence Durrant II. I鈥檓 a 91暗网 senior from Windsor, Connecticut, and I came here because I wanted to study arts administration.

Four years later, I've discovered chess club, the Bandersnatchers (an acapella group), 91暗网 Chorus, Vocal Chamber Ensemble, 91暗网鈥檚 admissions ambassador program, and an entire liberal arts curriculum. Each new discovery presented a chance for a new perspective and an evolving vision for myself.

I鈥檒l graduate as an economics and management business double major with a minor in arts administration. I already have my first job lined up as a consultant for a national insurance company. 

But those are just bullet points. There鈥檚 a lot more to me and my journey here.

With the end of my time here in sight, I鈥檓 looking back and sharing three pieces of advice I wish I had as a high school senior.

Dear high school senior, 

1. The 鈥渇eeling鈥� may surprise you

People will tell you that you will know which college is right for you. You will get the proverbial 鈥渇eeling.鈥�

I always thought that was a cheesy thing that only emotional people said.

They were right. I did get that feeling. But the first time, it wasn鈥檛 at 91暗网: I was dead set on going to a different school.

But when the acceptances came in, I had to take a closer look 鈥� at aid, learning opportunities, course work, campus life and more.

Many pro-con lists later, I had a conflict of head and heart. 91暗网 was winning.

Obviously, I鈥檓 here four years later and I feel happy every single day with my choice.

My advice

Hang in there. You will get the 鈥渇eeling.鈥� But it may happen more than once, later, or over-and-over again somewhere you didn鈥檛 expect. Set yourself up by doing your research and giving yourself options, because your final decision may surprise you.

The Bandersnatchers are one of the reasons I feel happy every day here. Here we are performing on "The Dr. Phil Show" last year. 

2. Don鈥檛 lose track of time

I was a little caught off guard by college-level academics. I鈥檇 always been prepared for the idea that college was the next step after high school. But that鈥檚 what I thought it was, a next step.

It never registered that it might be more than a single step. 

I came in thinking that I could go about my regular high school routines to achieve success in college as well, and I was very wrong!

Your college studies are more challenging than high school. But it鈥檚 not only that. It鈥檚 also the fact that while you鈥檙e getting used to more challenging subjects and assignments, you鈥檙e also getting used to completely unstructured time.

For some it was easy, but for me, I struggled. Between morning options, evening options, focusing on one day of the week and knowing when to study, when to eat, what my best times to work were 鈥� it took a lot of experimentation. 

My advice

Unstructured free time at college is a beautiful thing. It can also be a huge challenge to get used to. You鈥檒l need to be both kind to yourself that you aren鈥檛 going to be perfect, but also a little tough on yourself because this is a major part of your success and you鈥檒l be better off if you take it seriously.

3. You will fit in

I鈥檝e been in private school since first grade. I went to an all-male boarding school for high school. With these experiences, I thought going away to college would be seamless. I鈥檓 used to being away from home. I鈥檓 even used to rooming with people. College adjustment was going to be really easy.

Well, it was in some instances. In others, not so much.

When I first arrived, the biggest thing on my mind had nothing to do with academics. I felt entirely unprepared to tackle a huge thing 鈥� who would I hang out with?

Now I wish I could offer some story about how I found my friends, but I can鈥檛. The truth is, I don鈥檛 remember! I started with people I met in my Scribner Seminar. They lived close by and we all felt the same urgency to connect with people. But after that, it鈥檚 a blur.

My advice

Fear not, the message here is that it will be seamless, natural, instantaneous. You鈥檒l meet people in your residence hall. You鈥檒l meet people in classes. You鈥檒l meet people where you work, where you study, where your clubs meet. You鈥檒l meet people you never expected, some of my closest friends are international students.

And even more important is that my friends have changed. Growth here is almost exponential in both knowledge and personal development. No matter what, you will not be alone.