Don't worry too much and dwell on it too much. Just take it as it comes. You're going to have a lot of freedom and it will be pretty fun.
Don't worry about leaving behind your family and stuff behind. I'm pretty sure that Stanford University is not a ghost town. You're going to meet new people and make new friends and find people you can depend on. Just be yourself, stick a smile on yourself and be confident and you'll find the people that you get along with just fine which will make everything better. "Life's a happy song when there's someone there to sing along".
Once you get there try and immerse yourself in as many activities as possible that you enjoy and just keep yourself busy and try out a wide range of things in your first couple of days. This way you'll meet lots of people and it will keep your mind off things that might worry you.
Just relax and be excited. New experiences are fun and this is a new experience. You shouldn't be worried. I only just turned 13 in March and at the beginning of this year I began boarding school in Australia. I am from Papua New Guinea and in the past year I had been living in Fiji. At 12, I was moving away from home to a new school in a new country without my family and I am having a great time and loving it. If I can do that then this will be easy as pie for you. Good luck
This may sound cliche but you really need to write down a plan and a backup plan. Writing it down on paper helps to start putting the plan into action. First things first, you need to figure out whether you want to work or not. I personally recommend taking up a part time job to save money so by the time you do finish college you have a good amount of savings to move into your own apartment. The goal for you is to save, save, save. Instead of shopping at expensive clothing stores try stores that really inexpensive example Walmart, Thrift stores etc. You can still have fun and still go out but remember you are 18 years old. Safety is first. I also recommend checking the area out and doing some research to see what stores are around you. And please dont overly be obsessed with making friends. That will come with time. Also, try joining a club this a good way for college students to meet other people. Remember this, the relationships you establish in college usually last a lifetime!
wow what an opportunity
girl you don't have time to panic.
you need to be making the grade
volunteering time
working part time and saving every dime
you need to be sorting and down sizing...not that you take everything to college but it is time to clean through your childhood of plush toys and games and donate them...not leave the mess for parent..
I think you need to research the college and look for groups to join
find a map of the campus and learn it
touch base with someone on campus a mentor student could be a good future contact
I think you need to relax for now...but be mindfull of all you need to be doing daily..
you're in a good space and time enjoy it...
Just be glad you were not drafted and headed to Vietnam. Does that put things in perspective?
>> Write (or email) lots of letters home. After a couple months you will be settled into a routine, and things will be more calm.
It's fun and exciting to be on your own. You get to be free, and you can do whatever you want. Don't be afraid of your freedom!
Here are a couple of How to Prepare articles:
http://www.collegeview.com/articles/arti...
http://www.hercampus.com/high-school/pre...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/17...
