Hello everyone! It’s May 10th which means finals are over, I’m on a plane back home, and summer has begun. Though I’m very excited for Summer 2024, I wanted to give my first year reflections of college.
Throughout my entire senior year of high school, I remember the anticipation I felt of finally going to college. I just wanted to be in a major city that I could explore and make my own. When I got to college I started making friends, but there were still times when I felt lonely. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to attend a university and obtain a degree, but there were times where I would just get hit with all of this nostalgia and old memories, and it would be hard to return to the present moment.
I would be out with my friends and a random memory from high school would pop into my head. It would be hard to jump back into the moment when the memory was so comforting and easy. I would never want to turn the clock back, but I will always value the memories I made then because those memories made me.
The standards I set for myself in high school were so excruciatingly high in comparison to now. In high school, I had to get all As, be actively involved in many clubs, and make it look easy. In college, my only goal has been to try my best. I’m definitely not getting all As this semester, I go to club meetings if I have time, and my to-do lists are often unfinished most days. I’m truly fine with all of it. I put in the work day in and day out, but sometimes my efforts aren’t enough. To be honest, I can live with that.
This year, I didn’t really “feel” like a college student, but I also didn’t feel like I was still in high school. I was in this weird limbo the whole year. This changed when I revisited my old high school two weeks ago to watch my former dance team’s Spring Show. As I was saying hello to my old teammates and directors, I felt like that era of my life was over. In between all of the hellos and how are yous, this place no longer felt like mine. It’s a little sad, but I also know that college will bring so many amazing memories that I will cherish alongside my ones from high school.
*Sidenote: This random trip back home is what prompted me to write first year reflections. All right back to the regularly scheduled programming.*
I hope you all enjoyed my first year reflections, and can relate to it if you’ve ever felt the same. Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new posts. Come back next week as I will be discussing my favorite looks from the Met Gala this year! Stay sharp ;