{"id":393925,"date":"2026-09-08T18:52:08","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T18:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/393925\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T18:52:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T18:52:08","slug":"opinion-i-went-grocery-shopping-this-weekend-and-had-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/393925\/","title":{"rendered":"OPINION: I went grocery shopping this weekend and had fun"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>For freshmen college students, tasks as simple as buying groceries or doing laundry becomes exciting. ORACLE PHOTO \/ AUDREY KOCZANSKI<\/p>\n

I confidently strolled around each aisle in the USF on campus Publix<\/a> this weekend alongside my roommate. Except this time, there were no parents in sight.<\/p>\n

Instead, there were dozens of college students scattered across the grocery store.<\/p>\n

This could seem like a mundane task, one that I\u2019ve done plenty of times before starting college. Except this time it feels special, in a different way\u2014 I get to pick out the items I want by myself to place in my own cart.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It is one of the many tasks I now get to complete on my own as a new freshman.<\/p>\n

First-time college students are entering a transition into a world where we get to make our own choices, get our own food, do our own laundry, and wash our own dishes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It is the stage in life where we get to cosplay as adults. This feeling of newfound independence has sparked motivation in me to complete tasks I usually would rely on someone else to do.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Although move-in day can be quite the stressful task, the first two weeks I\u2019ve spent at USF have been more enjoyable than the four years I spent in high school.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It has given me a freedom unlike anything I\u2019ve ever been exposed to before.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It even influences the clothes I get to wear. Since the beginning of time dating back to Kindergarten, my academic experience has consisted of wearing a uniform.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve had to bear the same decision of choosing between a gray polo or a burgundy polo for the past thirteen years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But now, college has become my own personal fashion show. I get to choose a new outfit every day that is actually able to represent my style.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Tampa sun, although incredibly stifling at times, has not stopped me from wearing my long polka dot pants or vintage 2000\u2019s jacket.<\/p>\n

I have come across many warnings of the phenomenon referred to as \u201cfreshmen 15,\u201d where a review of 32 studies have shown that 60% of first year college students gain an average of 7.5 pounds, according to Healthline<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Yet in reality, it has felt more like freshmen having to walk 15,000 steps a day while trying to avoid getting hit by a dozen electric scooters.<\/p>\n

RELATED: OPINION: Pedestrians shouldn\u2019t have to fear walking at USF<\/a><\/p>\n

Although I have walked more these first days than in my entire summer, I am giddy at the thought of leaving my dorm room at any time to take a stroll through campus.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There is always a reason to be out exploring. Whether it be to people watch or to find the best study spots like the Marshall Center, Judy Genshaft Honors college, or a simple bench under the trees outside Argos Flip Kitchen.<\/p>\n

Even studying has become less of a burden and more of an excuse to find a relaxing spot to finish my assignments.\u00a0<\/p>\n

RELATED: OPINION: Where you study might matter more than you think<\/a><\/p>\n

Ariella Hester, a freshman psychology major, said the transition from high to college has been an enlightening experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ability to create my own schedule around my classes has created a sense of independence which is completely different from being a high school student who had to get approval on their whereabouts,\u201d Hester said. \u201cI am able to build my own study times whenever and wherever I please.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Although the independence of college can feel liberating, the transition can still be quite abrupt and requires time to adapt.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The sensation of nostalgia or homesickness are feelings that can quickly become overwhelming.<\/p>\n

In fact, during the first ten weeks of college, a study by the National Institutes of Health reported that 94% of students experienced feelings of homesickness, according to the National Library of Medicine<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It is hard saying goodbye to the loved ones who drove you to campus to move in\u2014 because this time it isn\u2019t for a college tour or orientation day. This time it\u2019s to stay.\u00a0<\/p>\n

All of a sudden, there isn\u2019t a parent or best friend guiding you in ways you may have been used to.<\/p>\n

However, there are many resources on campus that can help support you throughout these changes.<\/p>\n

RELATED: OPINION: Living alone as a freshman is never as scary as it seems<\/a><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re living on campus, residential assistants<\/a> are there to help support your needs, whether it is a situation arising in your room or simply needing to talk to someone. You can also visit USF\u2019s\u00a0 counseling centers<\/a> if you need mental health resources.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With academic concerns, visiting your professor\u2019s office hours<\/a> or booking an appointment with your academic advisor<\/a> can help you become more confident in the classes chosen for your schedule.<\/p>\n

Change can be scary, but it can also be incredibly exciting.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Starting a new life in a university with over 50,000 students<\/a> is one of the biggest opportunities to grow and gain fulfilling experiences you will carry on forever.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the end, the best part is that we don\u2019t have to do it alone\u2014 there are thousands of other freshmen navigating this same journey alongside you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For freshmen college students, tasks as simple as buying groceries or doing laundry becomes exciting. ORACLE PHOTO \/…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":393926,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[135,137,136],"class_list":["post-393925","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tampa","tag-tampa","tag-tampa-headlines","tag-tampa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/393925","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=393925"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/393925\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/393926"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=393925"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=393925"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=393925"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}