Well, folks, it hasn't even been a full semester at the time of writing this, but it's already been such an adventure. From walking at least five miles in a single day to get to all of my classes, meals, and my dorm to handling suitemate crises and locking myself out more times that I'm comfortable admitting, I am proud to say that I have grown personally as well as physically.

In fact, I have never been as active until matriculating. At the time of me writing this, I have just finished with every single class and just have to study for the first finals that I'll ever take in college! I am stoked about all things related to academics; college is not simply a means for me to apply and hopefully get into medical schools, and I wish to show my professors what I am made of and that I am not an average student.

I'm happy to say that I am still as in love with Stony Brook University as when I started the term. People have mentioned that Stony Brook gets depressing, especially due to the vast majority of students leaving for home for the weekend, but I honestly can't see that anywhere, no matter how objectively I look.

I've managed to not miss a single class (if I could help it) and maintain relatively good grades. I realize that I made the right choice when I chose Stony Brook University over other institutions, which made the silly internal quibble about prestige versus practicality during high school absolutely pointless. Yes, I could theoretically be happy at any institution I attend, but there is something special about Stony Brook that makes it so worth it to attend.

I'm so happy that Stony Brook is so affordable that I could attend without having too many finances dragging me down to drown in the recesses of student debt. I'm grateful that I may visit my parents very easily by the convenient LIRR station on campus if I ever get homesick. I'm thrilled that the Honors College has so many intelligent, motivated, and hardworking people that I may interact and form closer bonds with!

I sincerely look forward to the next seven semesters I spend here, as these four years of my life will be absolutely magnificent. My parents have constantly shown me their fondness of their college years and that they still long for them, as those years were some of the best in their lives.

I have taken their stories to heart and have realized that I should make every moment count, as it only felt like a month, yet a whole semester has passed. I made a promise to myself that I will treat every day as if it were my last, and while I can't fulfill that promise every day, I make a conscious effort to do so. I hope that I can continue to keep this promise as I spend the next three and a half years of my life here!