I'm in need of some encouraging words, as I now have just four short days before I start college. My first day of classes will be on Tuesday August 26th. I can't believe it is so close. I went and bought all my books yesterday, and even though I got all but three of them used, my total was still a little under $500. I know my classes, and I am beginning to prepare my supplies, but even still it's not the same as the normal back to school routine. This is a new chapter in my life. It's a whole new group of people that will have to learn about my condition and learn to accept me. It's a new work load I'm afraid of how I'll handle it, all the work and studying was hard enough in highschool with my RSD and always feeling out of sorts, but I'm afraid college will be much worse. I'm a tragically shy person, so I will have to work hard to overcome that so I can make friends. It always takes me some time, because I'm not sure when or how to bring up my condition, and I would imagine that I will have to have a talk with all of my professors ahead of time. There are so many things left unanswered at this point. I know it may sound stupid but I'm afraid of getting lost, that I wont be able to find my classes. And I just wish I could know in advance just how much stress I'm getting myself into. I wanted to go to college, don't get me wrong, it's just all so scary and new. Anyways, today I have some activities at the school, freshman orientation stuff. I'm not really looking forward to it, I kind of dislike big group activities. But hopefully things will go well these next few days.