Freshmen have little more than a week left before they finish their first year of college. For many freshmen, it only felt like yesterday when their parents were dropping them off for the first day.

The hardest part of living independently for most first-year students is when they move into their residence halls on the first day of college.

Meredith Jacobs, a freshman education major, found it difficult the first few weeks away from her family.

“I missed the privacy of having my own room to where I was sharing a room with someone else,” Jacobs said. “I definitely felt homesick for the first couple of weeks. I wanted to go home, but my parents encouraged me to stay at Eastern on the weekends.”

Most students agree that the one thing they develop is maturity and time management skills.

Lucas Snow, a freshman music education major, said he has become more responsible over the year.

“I have become more responsible this year as I have learned how to live independently and developed time management skills as well,” Snow said. “I have also matured as a person, too.”

When it comes to returning home, most freshmen cannot wait to get back to their hometowns and families. For some students, winter break was a chance for their families to recognize the change.

Brenna Hand, a freshman family and consumer sciences major, said her family noticed she was different.

“When I returned home for winter break, it was relaxing to be back at home and good not to have any academic stresses,” Hand said. “My parents keep telling me how I was acting more mature now than before I left for college.”

Steven Puschmann can be reached at 581-7942

or srpuschmann@eiu.edu