KIANA JOHN-BAPTISTE |

St. THOMAS- Transitioning from high school to college may be a breeze for some, but for others, it may become quite the headache.

Shaquan Lewis, an 18-year-old accounting major, thought that “making friends and keeping up with the work load would be the most difficult things to get used to.” In the high school he attended, his teachers and friends made it seem like the college professors were “heartless monsters.” To get over his fear, Lewis made sure he stayed on top of the game. He always made sure to look at his syllabus, and plan his day the night before, to make sure to complete every task that he is given.

Jakobi Peetes, an 18-year-old applied math major at the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas, said, “The hardest thing for me was finding a balance between school work and fun.”

Some students are prepared and ready for the change, like Jaelene Henderson who is an 18-year-old freshman. This commuter said, “I haven’t had any difficult experiences with transitioning from high school.”

Partying, sex and peer pressure, are present everywhere, and it increases during the years of college. Peetes said he wasn’t worried because he “knew what he was taught.”

This is not the case for some freshmen. Sadly, many of them lose themselves to become part of the crowd.

Safety is a big part of what students are afraid of. School shootings occur across the United States, and that can traumatize many freshmen.

Procrastination is an epidemic that has become a serious problem for many. Some students, especially freshmen, may procrastinate way too much.

“In some subjects like social science and English I can save for last,” Peetes said, “ but classes like math and science, I complete right away.”

The transition from high school to college may be frightening, but there is always a way to conquer it. It’s up to you to figure out your balance and make your college career successful!