Why This Semester of College Has Been My Favorite So Far

Yes, this year has been full of bad news. We are in the midst of a pandemic, had a seven month-long quarantine, an insane presidential election (turned out well in the end), and more. Basically every little thing that could go wrong…did. And when I decided to return to campus for this fall semester, I knew it would be challenging.

Returning to campus introduced new obstacles that I didn’t have to face in quarantine: a frequent testing schedule, social distancing with friends, doing classes online even though I was literally on campus, and so much more. It’s been a difficult semester for myself and every college student, and the new rising number of cases is not helping my sanity.

However, this semester of college was not as horrible as I expected it to be. I’d say it was definitely better than my previous semesters. My first semester of freshman year was obviously very difficult with making friends and entering a whole new phase of my life. Then my second semester of freshman year was cut short due to the pandemic. So here I am now as a sophomore, and it seems that this has been the best semester yet — in terms of friends and new experiences.

Since staying inside is not very appealing to those of us who spend hours on end staring at the computer and sitting in Zoom classes, the outside world and activities were huge successes. I definitely used the outside to my advantage. I spent hours lying on the BU Beach, sitting in the Boston Common or Public Garden, or working outside at a small cafe downtown. Being outside definitely helped me attain a positive mindset going into schoolwork and classes.

This semester also brought new opportunities. Since parties and large gatherings have been a no-go, I have had a lot of free time to just explore Boston and the surrounding area. I discovered Zipcar, and it basically changed my life. With Zipcar, you can rent a car (usually a nice one) for a certain amount of time, and they will provide you with a card to get gas and a guaranteed clean interior. I used a Zipcar to go apple picking with friends, to go to a haunted house, and to go hiking at a nearby reservation. Some of my favorite memories from this semester happened on those spontaneous trips, and I am so grateful that I was able to get out and away from Boston. And no, this isn’t sponsored! 

Coming into this semester, I thought it would be really difficult to see friends and even make new ones. I had a good group of friends coming into this year, but I didn’t know how often I would be able to see them or if I would be able to hang out with them safely. However, I was actually able to see so many of my friends (distanced and with masks, of course), and I even made a bunch of new friends through clubs and other activities. Whether it was walking to Harvard, shopping on Newbury, or just taking a stroll through Beacon Hill, there were plenty of opportunities for me to see friends and hang out with them outside of the BU Bubble.

Last year as a freshman, I was struggling to find my place here at BU. But this semester has shown me that people who really care about you will be there for you.

Even though COVID-19 still persists and there isn’t necessarily a close end in sight, you can still have fun and make new memories at college. Just remember to wear a mask, get tested regularly, and socially distance when you can!

Want to keep up with HCBU? Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, check out our Pinterest board, and read our latest Tweets!

• activities
• campus
• college
• COVID-19
• exploring
• fun
• pandemic
• quarantine
• Semester