For the incoming freshman and transfer students from all over Illinois, the country, and from across the world share one thing in common from their experiences in high school. They were stuck in a system of labels and cliques and were chastised for their efforts to express themselves or change their status. The dreams of youth and the friendships made years earlier on playgrounds and in backyards are forgotten in a mere four years.

Who we think we are and what we are is based on what a group of friends we knew liked. Psychologists call this “labeling” a process in which people base their opinions of themselves on what society calls or thinks of them.

After our four years in high school, we come to college. This is the golden opportunity we have somehow been blessed with. A place from our old lives where we have the opportunity to break free from the high school life and find yourself in the chaos of college. Yet it still seems that some people still are stuck in the mold of high school life.

The reasons could be that students like who they are now with all there heart or they are scared of the new environment and changes that are happening, so they retreat to where they are comfortable and stick with it.

For those who are in the latter, this column is not meant to be cruel, but a bit of advice to give. I know college can be scary and it feels better to follow the old trends of high school just because it is familiar, but that is the way college is supposed to be; to motivate change. Just because college is tough, you shouldn’t forget the real reason you are there (and no it is not to make more money in the future). We are here to become better citizens, to educate ourselves, and learn more about ourselves. To this we need to change something about ourselves, even if it is just the way we dress.

I offer this advice to the incoming students of Eastern. Forget about what people think of you and what is expected of you. Try something new throughout all the years you are hear. If you think you are funny and can act, tryout for one our comedy troupes like Lunchbox Voodoo or Hello Dali. If you want to write, try and work for one of the publications.

Why stop there, talk to someone in class you never considered talking to before; even if it is just to get notes from the class. Talk politics with someone you disagree with to get their perspective, try an activity you never thought of doing before, go to club meeting you thought were stupid, listen to music you hated, maybe even consider a major you did not think about before.

The point is that to really appreciate college you have to be willing to change. Staying the way you were for the last four years takes all the fun out of it and begs the question, what was the whole point of coming to college.