It’s hard to believe that my first year at the University of Vermont is coming to an end, but I couldn’t be happier with how this year panned out. Now that I’m an almost-sophomore, I’d like to share with you a few things I learned over the past seven months.
One of the first things I learned when I got to UVM was that college kind of sucks at first. I’ll be honest, I thought that the minute I stepped foot on campus I’d be having the time of my life. However, I spent most nights crying and thinking about how much I missed home. But have no fear! This feeling subsided eventually, and now I’m thankful that I experienced it because it showed me how much fun you can have when you give something a chance.
Another thing I learned as a freshman is that coffee is extremely important. I wasn’t much of a coffee drinker before college, but once I realized that my linguistics notes weren’t going to study themselves, I needed something that would allow me to stay awake for extended periods of time. Now, I am shamelessly addicted and I’m convinced that coffee is my one true love.
In addition, college will introduce you to some of the best people. Not only do I have a super awesome roommate, but I’ve also met a ton of other people through my classes and extracurriculars. I think a big reason that a lot of college students get along so well is because we’re all starving and poor.
College also taught me that it’s important to pursue your passions. I came to UVM with every intention of becoming a speech pathologist, but recently I changed my major to public communications. I want to work in a field where I can channel my creative side, and I love collaborating with others and meeting new people, so I decided that PCOM was a better fit for me. That being said, I couldn’t have made this decision without the help of the lovely advisors here at UVM, who all encouraged me to take the path I felt was best for me.
Finally, being in college has helped me understand the value of nap time. I’ve always been a fan of naps, however, since coming to college, my affinity for napping has become even stronger. Sometimes it’s hard to get a good night’s sleep in a dorm, since some people like to be as loud as possible once it night time hits, so I appreciate any extra minute of sleep that I can get throughout the day.
So, although it started off a bit rocky, I can’t imagine my freshman year going any other way. I learned so much about myself, others, and the importance of caffeinated beverages, all of which I’m extremely thankful for. I’m excited to take the things I learned this year and use them to my advantage next year. I may still be starving and poor, but at least I’ll be wise!