It's what we've all been waiting for. Finals week is over, we've moved out of our dorm room and we're back at home. It's officially summer. It seems almost surreal, being done with the first year of college. There have been a lot of highs and certainly a lot of lows.
My first year of college was probably pretty typical. At first, it was a tough adjustment from high school and home, but I pushed through those struggles. Then I realized this was my home now, so I tried to make it feel that way. Making my dorm room feel like home wasn't easy, and my roommate and I weren't sure how to do it, so we just got a rug for our room. Can't you tell we're both guys?
Throughout the course of the school year, I made a lot of friends. Some of them lived on my floor, some I had in classes and some that I just saw almost every day walking to class. I distinctly remember one of my brothers telling me, "College isn't necessarily about your grades. Don't get me wrong, they're important, but you'll get a lot farther in life by meeting people and making connections rather than having all A's." I think that helped me realize the importance of networking.
As for my actual school work and grades, college was sort of a wake up call. In high school, I typically had all A's and B's, but I realized that in college, it takes a lot of work to accomplish that. Not every professor is going to be the same. I had a class that was composed of three grades and a total of 100 points. Needless to say that was my worst grade and an eye-opener. I wasn't sure what to do when it came to that class. My professor was not very welcoming when it came to helping his students, and I felt helpless. However, I made it through and ended up passing the class.
Freshman year is a time for learning what's best for you. It's most people's first times being on their own. Being on your own helps you develop routines and figuring out what you have to do in order to be what you want to be. Luckily, I was able to recognize early on that I was no longer at home and accept that things would be different.
I had a blast during my freshman year of college, and no, that doesn't mean I was constantly partying. I enjoyed my time at school and away from home. Sure, it's a stressful time full of change, but I feel like I was well equipped for those changes. I couldn't have asked for a better roommate. We were a perfect fit for each other, and we had some great times and memories. Don't get me wrong, I missed home and my parents, but I know that this is where I belong, and I need this in order to get to where I want to be for the next couple of years.
So after being back home for almost a week. I'd like to take these last words to properly say goodbye to my freshman year of college.
