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CU Boulder | Life > Experiences

What I’ve Learned From My First Year in College 

Eera Vedavyas Student Contributor, University of Colorado - Boulder
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at CU Boulder chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

As spring break is approaching, it also means we have less than half of the spring semester left. This, for me, also means that my freshman year of college is over in a few weeks, which has made me reflect on this crazy new adventure. 

  1. It’s terrifying (in a good way).  

Moving from Illinois to Colorado in August was exciting and new, but as soon as my family left, I was alone. And it’s scary. You move away from everything that is familiar, and you’re kicked into the deep end of growing up, which no one really prepares you for. But it’s also exciting — you meet so many new people, gain new experiences, and learn so many life lessons. 

  1. You can’t force a connection. 

With so many people in the same situation as you, you would expect it to be easy to make friends. However, you can’t force a connection with other people. The reality is that people are going to come and go, and you can’t stop it. The only thing you can really do is enjoy the time spent together while you can. 

  1. Organizing, scheduling, and planning. 

Even if you think you have plenty of time to do an assignment or cram for a test, you’re wrong. There are constant deadlines or exams you have to study for, so organizing your classes, due dates, and study time is incredibly important to make sure you don’t miss anything. 

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  1. Don’t forget about your loved ones. 

Moving far away from your family and friends makes it so much easier to isolate yourself or forget about your loved ones, but they are still a part of your life. Call your family and facetime your hometown friends often; they’ll appreciate it, and so will you. 

  1. Balance! 

College is this new time full of independence and new adventures, but it truly is what you make it to be. Don’t spend too much time only on school, and don’t spend too much time partying it up every day. A healthy balance between school and social life is important. Work hard and play hard! 

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This past year has led me to learn so much about myself, such as what I prioritize, my social habits, and what I believe in. Although it has been a crazy few months, I’m incredibly grateful for all my experiences and life lessons. The college experience is what you make of it and the lessons you take away from it. 

Eera Vedavyas

CU Boulder '26

Eera Vedavyas is the Editor-in-Chief and contributing writer at the Her Campus Chapter at the University of Colorado Boulder. As the Editor-in-Chief, she oversees a team of a team of seven editorial assistants and 70+ contributing writers, as well as overseeing all editing duties, including reviewing other members articles and leading writing workshops, publishing articles for the chapter, training new editors, and work with HC Headquarters to report HCCU points. She helps prepare material for and co-runs weekly chapter meetings, collaborating with the rest of the Senior Executive team.

Beyond Her Campus, Eera is a senior at CU Boulder studying Psychology with a minors in Business, Creative Technology & Design, and Public Health. In the future, she hopes to apply her knowledge in an interdisciplinary approach, hoping to design products that help people live better lives.

In her free time, she enjoys reading and creative writing, learning how to cook, discovering new music, playing video games, spending time with friends, learning how to DJ, and exploring new places.