With the end of the school year quickly approaching, I couldn't help but reminisce on my first year in college. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that there is so much to think about, and it is truly amazing how fast time has gone by. It seems impossible to think that we are almost sophomores, for it seems like only yesterday that most of us had no idea where we were even going to college. Think about what an amazing accomplishment it is to have made it this far, and how much fun the ride has been.
First think about the day you committed to come to the school you selected. Despite all of your other choices, something about that school spoke to you, and you knew that you could call this place your home. There might have been the slightest sense of fear if you did not know your major going into "The College Process", but that is okay because you were not required to make that decision right away! Your only job at that point was to enjoy the rest of you senior year in high school, and make the best of the few moments you had left.
Summer flew by all too quickly, and before you knew it it was move-in day. You spent days deciding what to pack, rummaging through your belongings, and going shopping before you finally had everything loaded into the car (if you're like me, I still had not completely packed everything until the day we had to leave). I can still remember the never-ending swarm of butterflies in my stomach as the hours went by in the car. Once the campus suddenly came into view, so many cars and people came out of nowhere, and the campus was flooded with other anxious freshman who were feeling just as nervous as you were. Stress hit you like a brick wall as you begin bringing stuff into your new room, and you might also feel slightly guilty for the amount of stuff you actually packed that your parents helped you carry up. You then meet your roommate as you begin unpacking your things, and can't wait to see if you guys end up becoming great friends!
At the end of a long day or driving and unpacking, the dreaded moment comes to light: it's time for your parents to leave you to begin your journey as an independent college student. While other parents might have reacted differently, it was rather emotional for me and my family. It's hard to think that 18 years have gone by, and they have raised me into the person I am today. Now that the time has come for them to leave, we all realized that it was time for me to grow up. After a series of long hugs and tears, we enjoyed a walk down to the car, where I waved them goodbye and officially began my time here as a college freshman.
Orientation was fun, right?! There were so many activities planned and so many great opportunities to meet new people and begin making friends before classes began. However, this time was short, and the nerves returned as you entered your very first college class. Whether or not you took challenging classes throughout high school, you knew very well that college classes were going to be completely different. You might have also been excited because it is a fresh academic start! You knew that this was going to offer you new opportunities to challenge yourself, and work hard to earn good grades! As time goes by, you realize how easy it seems to skip class to take a nap, or use one of your skip days because you might not want to get out of bed. While this may be acceptable once or twice, you realize that no one is going to hold you accountable except you! You are now responsible for yourself in all aspects, which is not always an easy concept to grasp.
Well time goes by, the seasons change, and before you know it, you have six weeks left until summer vacation! Wow, where on earth has the time gone?! At this point, noting gives you more motivation than the thought of coming home to see your family, friends, pets, and simply enjoying a summer of relaxation. However, you might also think about your journey as a whole. I'm sure many of us can say that we have changed in many ways even within this short year. Maybe you became more academically engaged, or maybe you joined a club that never interested you before! You might have opened your mind to new experiences, and they changed your mindset for the better. You have made so many lifelong friends, those whom have aided in your transformation into a different individual. You think about how much you have grown up, and while there is nothing better than a nice phone call home once and a while, you are much more self-sufficient and independent compared to when you stepped onto campus for the first time. You also leave some time to think about the years to come, allowing a multitude of thoughts to envelope your mind: "What will next year bring?" "How else will I change as a person?" "Will I eventually pick a major that I am passionate about?" "Will next year fly as quickly as this one did?" Whatever you might be thinking about at this moment in your freshman year, allow those thoughts to fill you with a sense of optimism. Remember the great times you had, and allow them to carry you into next year, never forgetting what it was like to experience the first major milestone in your adult life.
