Customize Your Weekly Pathways Content Moving from a place like Boston, MA, where my Starbucks was only an 8-minute walk away, to Amherst, where I have to take a 20-minute bus, was not what I was looking forward to. I had thought that coming here would be similar to living in the city, with its bustling cars, the convenience of taking the commuter train, and having every store I needed right around the corner. Now that I’m here, I realize that my expectations were a little too high. However, being away from home and the city is something I now look forward to. Although I feel this way now, that doesn’t mean I didn’t struggle during my rough freshman year.
Your freshman experience may have been similar to mine, where you don’t feel as comfortable on campus yet, or you may not feel a sense of belonging on campus. When I was a freshman, I had felt the same way; it was really tough for me to adjust to UMass, especially coming from the city. But if you think of UMass as a miniature Boston, it gets a little easier. Just like in the city, you have to find your community, your little go-to places.
Expanding your vision at UMass Amherst by exploring all your options can be incredibly helpful, such as exploring on and off campus. For instance, exploring the campus allowed me to discover flyers for various events and opportunities. One of those opportunities allowed me to be part of a Defined Residential Community here on campus, El Barrio, the Latinx community. As a Dominican and Honduran student, this opportunity helped me feel less alone and disconnected in my search for a diverse community. Had I not found this opportunity my freshman year, I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy it and love it the way I do now.
If you’ve always lived in the city, you know how important it is to have a store right around the corner. Getting accustomed to the transportation on campus will help alleviate some of the confusion or fears you may be feeling about navigating it. The B43 bus that stops at Haigis Mall takes you right to Walmart and Target! Other buses also take you to different areas around Amherst, such as Northampton, Hadley, and Amherst Downtown. And if you’re still feeling homesick, you could take the Peter Pan Bus that stops right at Haigis Mall for any home visits.
Lastly, the best way to feel relaxed and comfortable on campus was by making friends. Making friends or meeting new people isn’t as intimidating as some might think. You can meet people anywhere —during classes (where I met one of my closest friends), at events (listed on the UMass Campus Pulse website), or in any day-to-day activity where you can simply walk up to someone and say hi!
Being at UMass Amherst is fun; it allows you to explore yourself while also expanding outside of your comfort zone and making new experiences. Freshman year may seem very stressful in the aspect of finding where you belong, but I promise, once you start building a routine and just enjoy being you, you’ll find yourself making new friends and finding new things to do almost every day. So with that, have fun, be open to trying new things, and always remember to be kind and patient with yourself in the process!
