I moved to New York City August 25, 2017 to begin my college career. It amazes me to think and realize that my first year of college is almost over. So many people warned me about how fast the college years will go, and I did not fully process what they were saying. My first year living away from home and having roommates will all be over and those moments of freshman firsts will disappear as the real world comes at full force. This past year has been exciting, challenging, and a learning experience as I found myself in this big city. All of these things like figuring out how to navigate the NYC subways system, making myself vulnerable so I can meet new friends, and experiencing my first college party made this year go by in the blink of an eye. People always say the college years are the best time of anyone’s life. I can now fully attest to this statement because I am living my best life as a “broke” college student. The freedom, friendships, and fun have made this year fly by creating memories that will be laughed at five to ten years from now. As a freshman who is approaching the end of their first year, there is still so much time to take advantage of everything college has to offer. In college, time can be everything as a student has to plan their schedules so their priorities can be accomplished. Often there is no time but four years of schooling is a lot of time and I wonder where did all of the time go?
Looking back on this past year I felt that I experienced everything college has to offer. Midterms, finals, late night study sessions, and roommate troubles, I thought what else could there be? I still have three years of school left with so many recollections to be explored. If freshman year came and went as fast as Usain Bolt in the Olympic track and field games, then I do not want to think about college coming to an end. Reflecting on everything I have endured during my first year is hysterical, a stress ball, and the definition of a good time. For the current seniors in college who are about to graduate and take on the next step of their life, it must feel like yesterday to when you were a freshman stepping foot on a brand new college campus, with the chance of knowing no one. I know that in the snap of a finger my college graduation will be around the corner and I will be trying to figure out what my life will consist of. Will I go straight to grad school, travel, work, move back home and get a job? All of the things that are supposed to be figured out during the fours years of college will be my new stressor come senior year. During that snap of a finger, I plan to enjoy and cherish every moment because those college years with your best friends will never be able to be lived again once you are a college graduate.