We’re growing up; some of us may not like it because we don’t know what to expect. For those of us thinking about college, reaching those teen years brings the question, “How am I going to handle college?”  Don’t just panic about the common app, try to prepare for the future with a hands-on approach.  A little over a year ago I wondered how I would manage in college; I’d probably forget to eat if it weren’t for my parents. Discovering FIT’s Precollege Program saved my sanity.  It provided exposure to my fields of interest and insight to the college experience.
My first big step was getting to FIT.  I live in Jersey so I had to commute every Saturday.  This was a new responsibility to tackle, one that bettered me in the end. Commuting and navigating NYC was daunting but minor compared to another college fear, the social aspect; worrying that it’s not possible to make a meaningful friend group, again!  Thankfully, Precollege showed me otherwise. I took my first course over a year ago and three kids in my photography class are still my good friends. Yes, college is a new environment but it’s new to a whole group of people; people just as nervous with the same hopes and fears. The Precollege Program extended my understanding of the college culture.  I realized I’d no longer make friends in a town of random people with random interests. College is not limited to associations based on where you live.  Choosing a college provides the freedom of being with students, from around the country, with shared passions and understanding for each other.

Another pressing question is “what is the workload like in college?” Stories range from struggling just to get C’s to a 4 year party with a degree at the end. A valuable lesson learned from my Precollege courses is whatever the workload, it’s worth it because you’re doing what you love.  Some assignments are very demanding, but I realize I’m being graded on my passions so nothing will stop me.

The college experience is much more than new responsibilities, making new friends or tackling workloads. It’s about discovering who you are; through this the rest will happen.  FIT’s precollege experience is certainly making this transition a lot easier.

-Walter