when l first entered college as a freshman, l was afraid that l was not able to do well in my studies. I was afraid of being off by myself, away from my family for the first time. Here l was surrounded by people l did not know and who did not know me. I would have to make friends with them and perhaps also compete with them for grades in courses l would take. Were they smarter than l was? Could l keep up with them? Would they accept me?