It feels like it was just the other day I was writing an article about lessons I learned during my first year of college. Now, it is just two weeks till I am done with my second year. It is hard to believe how fast time goes by. But at the same time, this year has felt especially long. I started the year off not knowing what to expect with transitioning back to in person classes. Throughout fall quarter, I was entirely overwhelmed and my mental health declined. I spent a lot of time alone and in bed. It was really difficult to find motivation to complete school work or to participate in extracurriculars but I managed to push through. The one area where I suffered was my ability to socialize.
Fast forward to winter quarter, I started to feel more like myself again but only after spending the first half of the quarter at home. I spent my time at home building healthy habits and finding moments in my day that made the repetitive dull of school less draining. I went on walks, spent time away from screens, talked to my family, meditated, and even got back into exercising– all while attending therapy. When I returned to school it was hard, harder than I expected. Many of the dynamics in my friendships changed. Although I was growing on a personal level, I was sad that many of my friendships had suffered.
I am now about to enter the last week of my spring quarter. This quarter has also brought upon its own challenges. When my mock trial season ended, I instantly found a way to fill my newfound free time by taking a heavier course load– and it has been stressful. At times, it feels like I am drowning in papers. This was balanced by the fact that I also spent a lot of my past weekends with family and my boyfriend which has given me something to look forward to.
When I look back on my year, it feels chaotic. It scares me that I plan to graduate early and that I only have a finite amount of time left in my undergraduate days. Sometimes I worry that I am not making the most of college. But, all it takes is some reframing to realize how much I have accomplished this year.
I am amazed at my ever growing independence and resilience. If you were to tell me even a year ago that I would be going to the beach alone, or getting groceries, or driving through San Diego alone to discover bookstores– I wouldn’t have believed you. Even goals of mine like attending office hours to create connections with professors, interacting with more people, or making the mock trial team, have been accomplished.
I couldn’t have made it through this year without the support of everyone in my life. Everyone that I have spent time with this year has inspired me in so many ways and has brought me moments of happiness when I needed it the most. Thank you to all of you who were a part of my second year, no matter how little of a role you played, even if it was just reading my articles, it means the world to me.
Here’s to 1 more year (and a quarter)!