One year ago, I never could have imagined the experiences and opportunities that I would encounter in college. After four years spent at a predominantly white high school where I was ostracized because of my race, my main goal for college was to have more than one friend, or someone to sit with at lunch. Nothing too grand, or unrealistic. Little did I realize that my college experience would be so much more than that.
So far in college, I have learned a lot: How to pack all my belongings into boxes and move into my new “home.” How to share my living space with another person. How to make the perfect cup of tea for study sessions and casual evenings spent with friends. How to sneak extra food (and tea bags) out of the dining hall for a midnight snack. How to be a good friend.
I have also had experiences that I never could have imagined, and that I will never forget. I discovered bubble tea my second day on campus, and have since incorporated the beverage into a weekly study ritual with my best friend. During finals week, I have participated in Primal Scream (exactly what it sounds like), and attended midnight breakfast, two uniquely different ways of dissolving anxiety. In Wind Ensemble, my bandmates and I got to don sunglasses and fake moustaches as part of an Elvis-themed performance. My housemates and I have had impromptu movie parties, and study sessions with my friends may or may not have turned into spontaneous dance parties. (What can I say? After an hour and a half spent coding, sometimes one needs a little Beyoncé.)
And, of course, the opportunities I have had in college have been beyond amazing, and sometimes it’s difficult for me to process that they have indeed been provided to me. As a first year student, I worked with a Psychology professor on his shooter bias studies—research with real-world implications. After a semester, he gave me free reign to work on a study of my own involving new, never-used equipment. I’ve gotten to mentor my “Little Sister” through Big Brother/Big Sisters, and watch her grow into a confident and headstrong young lady. This summer, I got an internship working in the HIV clinic of a public health center thanks in part to the wonderful contacts I have at school.
In the past year, I’ve grown immensely both as a student and as a person. Over the next three years, I want to expand the experiences and opportunities I’ve had, and create some new memories along the way: Helping new students adjust to college, hosting my own radio show on our college station, studying abroad, etc. Four years seems like an infinitely large amount of time when you start college, but I’ve come to realize it isn’t nearly long enough. It’s up to me to make the most of my remaining time and ensure the next three years are as memorable as the first.
