College is where you’re supposed to find yourself, discover your passions and lay the foundation for your future. It’s a place where memories are created and lifelong relationships are formed, yet no two journeys through college are alike. And navigating the tides of schoolwork, social situations, and so many "firsts" can elicit a wide range of emotions.

For freshmen in particular, the strangeness of moving into a dorm or off-campus housing paired with the pressure to succeed can prove difficult. Ahead, five college students open up about what it was like for them to live away from home for the first time.