More than 1,000 students started their freshman year at Behrend this week. While some are local and commute to campus, there are others who come from all around the world, ranging from areas less than an hour from Erie, to China. Local students tend to continue living in their family home, or somewhere close, while other students begin the experience of living on their own away from home.

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For some students, this may be the first time living away from home, and in some cases, the first time being away from home in general. It can be a frightening experience for some people, especially in the beginning before friends are made and groups are formed. Some students may feel lost and unsure of their next steps. However, in most cases, students are able to find their path through making friends, joining clubs and becoming involved on campus events.

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One bonus of this new found freedom is that it allows students to experience living on their own which is an important life experience. It also allows people to find themselves and find their place in the world. They can explore, try new things, make new friends and start up new hobbies. Most students also test out and learn their own personal balance of school, work and a social life.

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Along with finding yourself and your balance comes deciding what you want to pursue a major in. Behrend offers a vast variety of majors to choose from, but many freshmen will take general classes before declaring in order can get a better idea of their interests. However, if you find yourself lost and uninterested, changing majors is best to do early so that you do not fall far behind.

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Alongside these new found freedoms of life decisions, many students are also forced to learn to live with a roommate - sometimes even more than one and/or people they did not previously know. This can be good for freshman, however, because if all goes well, they may come out of the experience with new friends. Unfortunately, not all roommates get along perfectly but this could turn out into an overall learning experience.

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You may find yourself running into problems with your roommates as time goes on. Sometimes personalities may clash or you might find yourself around people who aren’t the friendliest. But don’t let this discourage you - students always have the option to move rooms and in some cases, it may be for the best. On the other hand, a roommate can be good company, can help with school and can even become a friend. In this best case scenario, it can lead to a fun and peaceful freshman year.

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Adjusting to living on your own can be a tough ride. Always remember that personal counseling is available to help and most faculty members are more than willing to help as well. Even talking to a friend who is currently going through or has previously experienced the same struggles can be a good idea. Once a student learns to live on their own, they can really begin to enjoy their college experience and begin that next step in life.