Anybody else struggle with the 'atmosphere' of college?

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I started my first year of college this year, straight out of high school. I'm happy that I got in and I feel like the academic experience is far superior to high school. I love how I've finally been deemed mature and responsible enough to be able to handle my own education, without the interference of parents, teachers and administrators. I also feel like I have a lot more interest in academics, now that discussion is actively encouraged and that I'm never being lectured about "the best way" to study and learn and how I must go about my academic life, like I was in high school.

I find one of my lecturer's to be rather boring to listen to, but his lectures are available online and I'm not obligated to attend them in real life, so that nullifies the problem. Other than that, I enjoy my classes, particularly the tutorials. Depending on how I'm feeling on the day, I find it easier to talk to people at college then I did at high school as well.

I intend to pursue post-graduate education and I wouldn't mind having a career in academia.

The issue I'm currently experiencing is that even though I feel more 'at home' at college and I'm much happier than I was at high school, I still feel like I don't entirely fit in with the rest of the students. I tend to get along better with the mature age students, rather than the ones my age. They seem to feel like this is the time to try everything, do everything and experience everything they possibly can. They fully seem to embrace the idea that college is the time for them to start figuring out who they are, to make mistakes and learn from them and to drink a lot. They seem to be idealistic and they fully believe that they can change the world, that they will make a difference, they're in control of their lives and they will be high achievers. That they will do everything they've ever wanted to do and they don't factor in the ups and downs of life.

I've often been accosted by the "political radicals" on campus, who are always in the centre of it, screaming about how they will change the world and that their politics will change the world. I feel like that they're naive, thinking that they can change the world by themselves. I also feel like their close-minded and rude, since any political beliefs you have that aren't the same as theirs, your told that you don't make any sense and that they're right.

I feel like I done all my "growing up" or "maturing" a long time ago. I don't feel like college is some sort of temple for doing that. I've always felt more mature than all my peers, regardless of age. A lot of the time, I even feel like I'm more mature than people older than me.

The people my age at college seem to be full of 'youth' for lack of a better word and sometimes I feel like a senior citizen. I don't want to try things just for the sake of trying them and I don't want to kick up a fuss about something without a good cause. I don't believe I can change the world. The most I can do, is make a difference to the people or the things around me. Call me cynical or jaded, but I'm just an ordinary person. I don't have superpowers.

I guess what I'm trying to say, does anybody else have similiar feelings?

Political radicalness is something that is definitely unique about the environment. I don't really sympathize with radicals--in the sense I don't share their enthusiasm--but I also understand its purpose in the college as an institution. Young people have always spearheaded most radical political movements, most notably the movements in the 1960s. They are ones willing to embrace change because they haven't settled down in their ways. The college, being an educational institution, only reinforces this by over-saturating students minds with knowledge about political issues that will manifest themselves into political opinions. I don't mean that in a bad way either: my college classes have made me think about political issues and have really changed my views on certain policies, perhaps mostly those dealing with race. However, the reason I don't really sympathize with them is that I'm not here to spearhead political issues. I'm here to learn physics, and therefore, I often consider the political aspects to be peripheral to the college experience. And honestly, looking at people in the college of science and engineering, that seems to be their views. So, yes, I always felt I never fit in with the politicized crowd, but I also acknowledge their place in collegiate institutions. It isn't so much the collegiate population is politicized, however, as much as a lot of students are political. But for every student that is political, there's usually one who simply isn't. It's all depending where you go on campus, and really reinforces that the college population, taken as a whole, is more about diversity than conformity.

So, to answer your question: I do not feel I belong to the politicized crowd, and while do I acknowledge that crowd's natural role in the college taken as an institution, I don't feel left out just because I do not belong to that crowd.

I do feel left out when it comes to the partying scene, however, but I just found a group of people who spend their Friday nights differently and that usually works out just fine.

Most college students aren't all that intellectual in nature. Most view college as a social environment, like a high school where you can drink and party and be away from parents' disapproval. If there aren't any intellectual peers who can be candidates for friends, make friends with your professors. They're people who are guaranteed to enjoy stimulating intellectual conversation as much as you and won't find it "weird" how excited you can get talking about academia.

I agree. And definitely feel you melmaclorelai. I find it isn't just college but my age group in general.

When I started with community college, it was a lot like dealing with high school part two. There were immature students and some of them were downright mean. When I didn't do well one particular semester (failed a math course), I had to do a workshop seminar to prove to the dean I was 'trying to improve' (something required for those on academic probation). The student ALUMNI (one in particular) was the epitome of a high school bully and the director of minority affairs was just as immature (she was the one hosting) and joined right into his little antics (which consisted of staring at me and making me as uncomfortable as possible). Community college really isn't for making friends though, at least where I went.

Started university (transfer) two years ago and still feeling the effects. Both roommates I've had always wanted to drink, get high, and were friends with like minded individuals. Dating within my age group has been a pure nightmare because everything they want to do involves groups, nightclubs, and some form of recreational drug. It isn't just college but the age group as a whole. Even at work I find myself associating with people at least a decade or two older than me. Some of them treat me like a little child but others see me as their equals and love my insights and presence.

After being at college for nearly three months now, I would agree that is just my age group in general. I knew that a lot of people in my high school were into partying and drinking, but at college it's like high school amplified times a hundred. I guess people are just more open, in college.

I'm a bit of a political radical, but you don't have to be. That's part of maturity on my part.

You can be friendly acquaintances with a professor, but usually not more than that.

What you can do is be a matter-of-fact and low-key leader. For example, you could be the one finding out the details and inviting people to observe court cases or 'round' at a local hospital. And on a less intellectual side, Saturday hikes, maybe an obstacle course, or kayaking trips. If you ask three people and two or three are interested, that's typically a go. If only one out of three is interested, that's going to be on a smaller scale.

I sometimes feel a mild buzz after finishing one beer, really, and maybe largely on empty stomach. In fact, I wish we directly taught young people including what we model in movies, of underdoing alcohol, in zen like fashion of being open to pleasant buzz and not feeling the need to take it further. And same for marijuana (standard proviso: where legal). I am against almost all other drugs (except where doctor prescribes antidepressant, that kind of thing, although that's trial and error in a respectful sense since sometimes it's the third antidepressant which 'clicks' for a person, etc, sometimes the fifth. I guess I feel legal drugs are difficult enough without worrying about all this illegal sh.t.) if moderationwas a prime taught skill, then maybe abstinence, maybe moderation, no big deal either way.