How To Tough Out Your First Semester, According To WWC Students
Sophie Aguilar | Feb. 3, 2026
Image of Sunderland, a freshman dorm hall at Warren Wilson College (WWC) in Swannanoa, N.C. (Richmond Joyce/Echo)
The first semester of college is a different experience for each student. From making new friends to finding community, Warren Wilson College (WWC) students start their time at WWC with different approaches and achieve different goals.
When asked to rate their first semester at WWC, the average respondents to a survey sent by The Echo said their semester was a seven out of ten. Kai Walters rated his first semester at WWC as an eight. Their semester highlights included attending community events such as ecstatic dances and meeting new friends.
Walters shared how their first semester was impacted by personal life experiences, but they were glad to have strong connections with his new friends. According to The Mental Health Coalition, it is to struggle with academics, but it can also be exciting to be able to try out new subjects and discover a new passion.
“I kind of have a perfectionist mindset,” Walters said. “It makes it even scarier to attempt something because of this crazy high standard. But I did really well in my intro to music in a therapeutic setting class because I really enjoyed it… I’ve really enjoyed this semester because I have gotten to pick a lot more of my courses.”
Walters also mentioned a highlight of their year was the pre-orientation trip they went on before the semester started. This trip consisted of meeting other new students with some upperclassmen guiding the trip, and spending time hiking and camping in the woods. Susana Stinson was another new student on this trip.
“I started out the semester feeling really great about friends,” Stinson said. “I had friends from pre-orientation, that was a godsend, because I knew people right from the beginning, and I’m so grateful for that.”
One common downside that many students face during their first semesters at any college is the adjustment from being at home to moving to a new place. That is one aspect that Stinson actually appreciated, the sense of freedom that comes with leaving home for the first time.
Stinson has felt that WWC has many resources to help students succeed during their time here, but these resources are not promoted enough.
“I feel like [the school is] trying,” Stinson said. “There are all these support resources, but I wish that our first year seminars had done a better job of pushing us into these things, like going to the writing studio. I just wish there were more things specifically training you how to use these resources.”
Finn McKenny also shared their opinions on how WWC could help students who may be struggling during their first semester. McKenny also rated their semester an eight, with the highlight of meeting new people. He believes that making new connections is a vital part of feeling comfortable in a new space.
“I think having more events targeted towards different groups because there are a lot of craft nights… but some people don’t like crafting, so they’re having difficulty finding a social group,” McKenny said. “I know there are probably a lot of other things going on, but they aren’t well-advertised.”
It is not unheard of for students to leave college after their first semester. Based on the survey, the average WWC first-year student knows at least three students who left. Students leave school for various reasons, whether that is being on academic probation, feeling overwhelmed with coursework or being homesick.
“I know it can be overwhelming, so I think maybe being more clear and concise that there are resources to help them,” McKenny said.
Starting college can be a challenging time, yet still provide a sense of accomplishment. Each student has a different experience and responds differently. Whether it is new friends or new experiences, WWC students gain a wealth of experiences during the first semester.