It’s been about a year since I made my decision to attend the University of California, San Diego, and as I walked back to my miniscule-sized dorm room today after class, I began to reflect on how much has changed in my life in just one year. There are obvious changes, like the significant room downsize, the independence from my parents, moving to a different state, and adapting to a different atmosphere. But there are also the changes that have occurred that I hadn’t even realized had happened until I took ten minutes to take a break and reflect. These changes I am talking about go deeper than just joining clubs and meeting new people, though these are an integral part of being in college. Rather, these changes are being able to not just discover new interests, but to be able to discover new passions. These changes are not only about making new friends, but making friends who will be at your wedding and who you will still talk to in thirty years. These changes are what make college amazing, and I would love to share with you what I’ve learned through these changes.
I’ve certainly learned a lot about life and about myself, as cliché as that sounds. One stand out lesson is that I have learned to be adventurous. Though moving to a different state was already an adventure for me, I’ve tried out fun and new activities like paddle boarding, boogie boarding, and hiking to Potato Chip Rock, to name a few. Even if you’re staying in your hometown for college, there’s always more to explore, new activities to try out, and ways to break out of your comfort zone. However, even though I learned to break out of my comfort zone and to try new things (because after all, it is college), I’ve also learned the hard way to still stay true to myself. College comes with changes, and these changes will inevitably change who you are, but I’ve learned the importance of staying grounded and true to your beliefs and values, and to not get caught up in the hype of complete freedom and a lack of responsibilities.
With that being said, the only way to stay true to your values is to figure out what those values are, and college is the perfect time to do that! You are surrounded by endless opportunities, from clubs to job positions, all at your fingertips waiting for you to take initiative. Whether you join a sports team, a sorority, or a cultural club, I’ve learned that it’s necessary to surround yourself with a group of people who share the same values as you, and chances are the clubs/groups that you are inclined to join do in fact share those values. Being able to find people who I’ve had the chance to build a community with has been such an important part of my college experience. I’ve learned that that’s one of the most amazing aspects of college that sets it above and beyond what you experience in high school. When living on a college campus, people constantly surround you, and while it may be hard to find time to be alone, you always have opportunities to connect to others and build deep and meaningful relationships. This is not to say that you won’t stay close with your high school friends, but that you will meet so many people and make so many more friends! I would say it’s important to keep a wide open mind to the various perspectives, stories, experiences, values, and beliefs that come with 20,000 undergraduates all trying to find their place in the world. All of these viewpoints make us unique, and can help you build your own self to discover your own place in the world. And because of that, college is amazing.
The following are how other girls from around the country responded to the question of what they learned in their first year of college:
“I think I’ve learned about managing my time with school and work, new friendships and old friendships and just in general keeping my life from falling apart when it seems like I don’t have enough time to keep moving forward.” – Courtney, University of Arizona
“I’d say that the college experience is something that’s really personal and it’s up to the student to figure out what they want out of college. Also, it’s never too late to change your interests! College is a time to try new things, so it’s important to join clubs and activities that you might never look into.” – Suzannah, University of Denver
“I learned that no matter how much we try to prepare ourselves for what college is like, there’s nothing that truly can prepare us for what college teaches us. That’s the beauty of college though, it’s not knowing the craziness that lies ahead. I [also] wish I knew more about the college culture I guess. Like how touring a college or staying on campus for a night in a program would be super insightful. Also maybe learn good study habits or at least start out with them.” – Lisa, Arizona State University