Every change in your life requires an adjustment period. Remember your excitement about being old enough to learn to drive? If you are honest with yourself, you might also recall some anxiety during that learning period. But hopefully you stuck with the driving lessons, got your license, and grew to be a better driver with daily practice.
Our culture seems to focus attention on the excitement of going away to college, and so freshmen arrive on campus and seem to be blindsided by the realities of daily life in a new environment.
You may not have had to make new friends since preschool or kindergarten. And even then, your parents probably arranged all your interactions with other kids. So, maybe you don’t have a clue how to go about making friends in a sea of strangers who all seem so different.
You are more than just a kid from XYZ hometown in a faraway state. You have lots of interests, and there are people living in your dorm that share some of your interests. It is your job today to reach out and try to find people who share some of your interests.
But just like dating, you will have to endure a good number of mismatches before you find “your tribe” of people. And that is normal too. So take whatever offers for social interaction you can get these first few weeks. Eating with someone is better than eating alone. If you realize you are not compatible with your lunch buddy, you can still ask questions about the campus or dorm and maybe learn something helpful.
My kids tell me you should always exchange phone numbers the first time you meet someone on campus who might be compatible with you. This lets you text to offer to meet up at dining hall or invite to a movie. Same with classes, you will want to collect numbers to be able to form study groups.
Best way to get over yourself and your feelings is to serve others. The college will most likely provide a service project, or you can search for service clubs during the orientation fair where all the clubs have booths. It seems easier to talk while you have something productive to do with your hands. And after a long day of working, it would be more natural to suggest going out to eat.
Wear tshirts that proclaim your inner nerd/geek/goth or whatever interests you. I promise that will attract attention from others who share your interest.
Good luck to you. This is going to be an exciting adventure, and you want to be able to have experiences that will help you feel more grounded in your new home.
My D used the phrase “I can’t wait to head back home” after being at my home during Christmas break from college. To her, her home was at college, her friends were her family, and she missed being with them. I hope that you can adjust to seeing your campus as your home in the coming months.