Freshman year:
I threw myself into being involved on campus. This was my escape from the stress of being away from home and the unknown of transitioning into being an independent adult. Fortunately, I found so many different communities that accepted and welcomed me with open arms. The best part of this experience was the communities that overlapped. I had friends that were in my residence hall, in some of my classes, and in the same club. I definitely took this experience for granted. During the second semester of my freshman year, the school sent all students home due to COVID-19 and a lot of those experiences from my on-campus involvement drastically changed or were completely eliminated.
I joined the New Student Government which is designed for freshmen and transfer students. I joined the Community Council for my residence hall where I hosted events and pursued the opportunity to attend nationwide conferences. I joined the Residence Hall Association for my university as well as the National Residence Hall Honorary. I found new friends who shared my love for photos and Photo club is where I re-inspired my love of photography. I accepted an invitation to help host a conference for residence halls across Arizona. I took on leadership positions in all aspects of my life. I had meetings every day, ranging from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and yet I was having so much fun.
I have always been someone who strived to be involved, strived to improve whatever space I was occupying. My behavior freshman year was nothing short of unordinary for the type of person I am. Anyone that was close to me could have predicted this with 100% accuracy.
Sophomore year:
Even though I continued my involvement with most of my organizations, it was not the same experience. I still had a support system as I was living back at home with my family, but it was different. I was surrounded by the people and in an environment I was extremely familiar with and was not challenged in the same capacity as I was on-campus. I was not able to spend hours on end in the dining hall or walking to North campus in the freezing wind to watch movies with my friends. I felt disconnected. Especially now when I reflect on that experience and time of my life I realize how much of college I was being robbed of. I was content and happy, but not overjoyed, not how I feel now as a junior. I always wished I could be on campus experiencing what I had the right to experience as a college student but the situation did not allow it and I have grown from that experience.
Junior year:
I have returned to my beautiful mountain town of Flagstaff, Arizona. I have a car and have the ability to travel to national parks on the weekends, go to the movies with friends, hang out at coffee shops, and spend every waking minute living my best life as a college student. I have never been so grateful for the life I live, the friends I have and my ability to create memorable experiences.
I am going to be honest here, I am really close to burning out. For the last three weeks, I have been nonstop. I have had meetings, on top of conferences, on top of classes, on top of more conferences. I can not remember the last time I spent more than five hours at home with the exception of sleeping every night, some nights I have barely been home that long. At the same time in which my room’s lack of organization and piling up laundry stresses me out, I find so much joy in spending 10 hours at my friend’s house not accepting the fact that it is already 4am. Despite knowing that we would be seeing each other again at 10 a.m. the next morning. Brainstorming layout ideas with the executive board of the student newspaper at a conference makes the lack of sleep seem worth it. These experiences are what I am going to remember 20 years from now. I am going to be telling my children the story of going to see the Grand Canyon at sunrise with my friend whom I only met a semester ago. If you would have told me freshman year that I was going bowling with those people in the photography club who I barely talked to, I simply wouldn’t believe you. I would not have believed that two days before a snow storm I spent my afternoon in North Quad playing soccer and body-slamming my fellow club members only to score the winning goal. But my smile from that day still has not disappeared. Maybe when the dishes begin piling up, there is an empty refrigerator and my planner has only one task crossed out, it is worth it. Maybe those things are not so important. At this moment, I feel obliged to go with the second option. People are worth so much more; and the more time I spend with them, the more I realize how great they are.
The single greatest piece of advice I can give anybody who is entering college is to get involved. To put yourself out there. Say yes to that one invitation as it may lead you to meeting your best friend. Fill your schedule with meetings and say hi to the bus driver. Smile at the person in the dining hall with who you share a class with. Go to your TA’s office hours. Go to the event hosted by campus events and make a friend. Expand your circle of comfort.