You're almost out, don't worry!

I just drove past my old high school just to take in a nice breath and think how nice it is not to be in that -hole anymore

And to go give hell to a couple of younger friends who are still there.

I think about doing that when I'm home for winter break.

Mostly, I'd be going back to see a few teachers I enjoyed working with and giving hell to the one who pissed me off.

I miss college.

I can only feel like I've graduated high school after I've done this. I need to find out when my old one starts this year.

Well, got moved in yesterday. Classes started today. Already off to a bad start by having my Business Statistics book stolen, which will cost me $100 that I had planned for other things. Other than that, things are swell, allthough I am homesick for my small town of 3,000. Living in the city is so, different.

School starts tomorrow (about eleven hours from now) for me.

I'm nervous. I'm very, very nervous.

What if I accidentally piss off my teacher? Or what if my teacher just doesn't like me? What if my peers don't like me? What if I get sick during class? What if I say something really stupid and look like an ass? What if I talk too much? What if I talk too little?

Secondary Education with a focus on mathematics

Studying Computer Science.

Not much else to say about that. Can't wait for the next two years to be over so I'll be done.

Then you'd better hope that you stay in line, or you'll learn just how many options are at a professor's disposal to fail you regardless of the work you do.
Your professor does not care about you unless you initiate contact. He doesn't like you. He doesn't not like you.

You'll get volunteered for a brutal sorority hazing without ever applying to a sorority.
You walk out the door. You don't need a bathroom pass anymore.

No one in the room will take you seriously for your entire college career. Maybe they'll tell your friends and none of them will take you seriously either.
People will ignore you.

People wll ignore you.

... that's an... optimistic outlook, Xavius...

It's very true, though.

So.... this is bootcamp then, ya?

Answer the questions. Don't speak unless spoken to. Don't speak more than you need to when you do. Long, convoluted answers are a no. The Drill Instructor is always right, even when they're wrong. They're the one in charge, not you, and if they tell you to dance around the room in a cow suit, dammit, you're going to dance around the room in a cow suit.

Right?

No. Completely wrong. My tactic? Keep your head down, and stay unnoticed. If most professors don't know your name, it's for the best. But, when you're in your own major, attempt to mercilessly crush the students in your major and prove you are far superior to any them!

So it's military training? Or... wait, no, it's my HS all over again!

"Teacher doesn't know your name? It means you're passing with flying colors. Oh wait, it's your (insert major here) class? What the is wrong with you? (Draw better / Paint better / Sculpt Better / Carve Better / Dance better / Act better / Sing better / Set up stages better / Play the better) you idiot or else you'll never get above a C!"

The right way to do it is to break out of the system, actually.

The professors should all know you by name and smile when you say hi, and you should have the sort of relationship with the professors in your major that you would be comfortable asking them for help (EDIT: Help with things outside of class, that is. Help with life, help with meeting people, help with your future, help with anything). You want them to like you, not fail to acknowledge you.

The other students are there to have fun, learn lots, work towards a career, or some combination of the three. Contribute to them doing what they're there to do, and they'll help you in turn. College students are generally more open-minded than high school students, and the type that fails at life generally doesn't make it in the front door. Get involved as much as you can without sacrificing your grades or your sanity.

Most people don't care one iota about what you do anymore. The prisonesque discipline of high school is gone. On one hand, it gives you the freedom to do the stuff you want to do now. On the other, it means you have a lot more opportunity to fall flat on your face, or the careless people you associate with have more chances to mess you up. Practice adult thinking: keep good company, don't be stupid, do what you need to do, find time to enjoy yourself when everything else is squared away. And really, college isn't hard or time-consuming except around midterms and finals, so there's plenty of time to enjoy yourself.

Now that there, that is an uber-helpful outlook. Thank you!

It doesn't make the rest of it less true.

The first stuff you said made me more nervous, though!

The things you said later made me think, "Okay, college is different, but I might not get eaten alive."

Then you shouldn't ask just about the bad things. You should remember all the things that can go right!