A YEAR OF FIRSTS: FRESHMAN YEAR
When I began my freshman year of college at the University Cincinnati last fall, I was both thrilled and anxious to begin my collegiate adventures. Though UC was a mere twenty minutes from childhood home in Northern Kentucky, none of my other high school friends were going to the same college as me. The only person that I knew on campus was my older sister and her roommate, both of whom were beginning their sophomore year. I didn’t have any roommates, but rather three suitemates who I shared a bathroom yet. I was in a very unfamiliar place surrounded by unfamiliar faces, and I didn’t want to continue to hang out with only my sister for the rest of the year. Though I was scared to venture out on my own, I was excited to make new friends and make the most of my freshman year. My major required that I be a part of a learning community, which is a group of students who share your major and with whom you will have the majority of your classes with. With my learning community, I began to join some new clubs on campus for education majors (Future Educators Association, for example) and utilized my learning community as a study group as well as a group of friends. I began to attend any campus activities that peaked my interest, and was also sure to attend as many football games as possible. In late September, I took a chance and went through sorority recruitment, which resulted in me joining the sorority of Chi Omega-ironically, the same sorority that my biological sister was a part of. I instantly made several new friends with these girls and have enjoyed every minute of it. Reflecting back on my first year of college, I wouldn’t change any of it. There are, however, some life lessons that I have learned through those first two semesters; specifically time-management, determination, and how to be an independent adult.
Before you go off to college, you are warned by your teachers and parents how different college will be from high school. We’ve all heard the classic one-liners: your professors won’t be as relaxed and flexible in college, you’re going to have pay more attention in college, college professors won’t stand for late homework no matter what the excuse, you won’t be able to skate through college like you did through high school, and so on and so on. No matter how many people tell you these sage words of advice, you always believe that you will be the one who doesn’t need to listen to them. I was one of those stubborn incoming freshman who believed that I didn’t need to listen to the constant cliches from all the adults in my life. School and my grades are very important to me, and I expected nothing less than an A- from myself in any class. However, I thought that I could continue to get the same grades in college that I did in high school, with the same amount of procrastination. Not the case. I quickly discovered that while I might put the pro in procrastination, it isn’t something to be proud of. I had to constantly be working ahead in my classes to make sure that I would still make Dean’s List at the end of the semester. I had to learn how get my homework and studying done ahead of time, in order to have extra time for studying for exams, and free time for my extra curricular activities. The concept of time-management soon became my golden rule, and thankfully I learned this particular lesson early on or I would not have been so successful my freshman year.
Determination is another lesson that I had to learn. In high school, I was extremely active in several extracurricular activities, including theatre, student council, and soccer. In addition to these activities, I also held leadership positions in these clubs. Upon entering UC, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to join more clubs. I joined a few organizations, namely Chi Omega sorority, Future Educators Association, and Future Greek Leaders. Though I was happy with joining these clubs, I was wary in pursuing leadership positions. Though I was comfortable with holding leadership positions in high school, I was vaguely intimidated by the other college students who had much more experience with leading than I did. Finally, I decided to take a chance and apply for a leadership position in my sorority. I figured that I could at least apply, and at worst just not get the position and try again another year. A few weeks after turning in my application, I was thrilled to find out that I had received the position of Alumni Relations Chair. As Alumni Relations Chair, I was responsible for relaying information between the collegiate chapter and the alumni chapter, such as telling them what was happening on campus, how they could help out with our fundraising, and so on. I was also responsible for writing and distributing a monthly newsletter that described the big events coming up in our chapter, including pictures from recruitment and formals. In addition, this position also meant that I was able to help plan our centennial this fall. With this newfound leadership opportunity, I was filled with a fresh sense of determination and began to apply for more leadership positions of campus. This summer I will be an Honors Retreat Leader, which involves leading a group of incoming freshman and helping them in their transition to the University Honors Program. In the fall, I’m eager to explore new leadership opportunities and make new connections on campus.
Perhaps the biggest lesson I have learned after my first two semesters at UC is how to function as an independent adult. This was my first time living away from home for an extended period of time, and I was not used to having no mother to remind me to clean my room or do my laundry. There were times when I had to write myself Post-It notes and leave them on my mirror in order to complete the simplest of tasks, like vacuuming or buying more food. I didn’t have anyone to go out and buy me more contact solution or Ramen noodles, and I was fully responsible for my own well being, in addition to all of my classes. At first, I struggled with remembering to not let my room get too messy or spending my money wisely. But by the end of the year, I had a routine down and I felt as if was as responsible as I could be for a college freshman. I could do my own laundry, keep my room tidy and orderly, all while remembering to buy new groceries when I needed to and keeping up with my schoolwork and college organizations.
With these lessons in mind, I am even more excited for my sophomore year than my freshman year. I will be able to manage my time well enough to join more activities on campus and hang out with my friends, but also maintain my Dean’s List GPA and succeed with my academic goals. With my new sense of determination, I plan on pursuing several more leadership opportunities in the fall, including applying to be a ROAR tour guide, and attending the Leadershape conference over winter break to shape and better my leadership qualities. Now that I have learned how to be responsible as an independent adult, I cannot wait to live in the newly built Morgens resident hall next year. After learning these three crucial lessons and more throughout my time as a freshman here at the hottest college in America, I can say with confidence that my sophomore year will exceed my expectations, and be just as enlightening as my freshman year. I am excited to see what this year holds!
Pictures: (Left to Right)
1. Me and my future roommate Sarah at a Bearcats football game
2. Myself with some of my Chi Omega sisters I after being initiated
3. Homecoming with my Chi Omega sisters (and my actual sister!)
Before you go off to college, you are warned by your teachers and parents how different college will be from high school. We’ve all heard the classic one-liners: your professors won’t be as relaxed and flexible in college, you’re going to have pay more attention in college, college professors won’t stand for late homework no matter what the excuse, you won’t be able to skate through college like you did through high school, and so on and so on. No matter how many people tell you these sage words of advice, you always believe that you will be the one who doesn’t need to listen to them. I was one of those stubborn incoming freshman who believed that I didn’t need to listen to the constant cliches from all the adults in my life. School and my grades are very important to me, and I expected nothing less than an A- from myself in any class. However, I thought that I could continue to get the same grades in college that I did in high school, with the same amount of procrastination. Not the case. I quickly discovered that while I might put the pro in procrastination, it isn’t something to be proud of. I had to constantly be working ahead in my classes to make sure that I would still make Dean’s List at the end of the semester. I had to learn how get my homework and studying done ahead of time, in order to have extra time for studying for exams, and free time for my extra curricular activities. The concept of time-management soon became my golden rule, and thankfully I learned this particular lesson early on or I would not have been so successful my freshman year.
Determination is another lesson that I had to learn. In high school, I was extremely active in several extracurricular activities, including theatre, student council, and soccer. In addition to these activities, I also held leadership positions in these clubs. Upon entering UC, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to join more clubs. I joined a few organizations, namely Chi Omega sorority, Future Educators Association, and Future Greek Leaders. Though I was happy with joining these clubs, I was wary in pursuing leadership positions. Though I was comfortable with holding leadership positions in high school, I was vaguely intimidated by the other college students who had much more experience with leading than I did. Finally, I decided to take a chance and apply for a leadership position in my sorority. I figured that I could at least apply, and at worst just not get the position and try again another year. A few weeks after turning in my application, I was thrilled to find out that I had received the position of Alumni Relations Chair. As Alumni Relations Chair, I was responsible for relaying information between the collegiate chapter and the alumni chapter, such as telling them what was happening on campus, how they could help out with our fundraising, and so on. I was also responsible for writing and distributing a monthly newsletter that described the big events coming up in our chapter, including pictures from recruitment and formals. In addition, this position also meant that I was able to help plan our centennial this fall. With this newfound leadership opportunity, I was filled with a fresh sense of determination and began to apply for more leadership positions of campus. This summer I will be an Honors Retreat Leader, which involves leading a group of incoming freshman and helping them in their transition to the University Honors Program. In the fall, I’m eager to explore new leadership opportunities and make new connections on campus.
Perhaps the biggest lesson I have learned after my first two semesters at UC is how to function as an independent adult. This was my first time living away from home for an extended period of time, and I was not used to having no mother to remind me to clean my room or do my laundry. There were times when I had to write myself Post-It notes and leave them on my mirror in order to complete the simplest of tasks, like vacuuming or buying more food. I didn’t have anyone to go out and buy me more contact solution or Ramen noodles, and I was fully responsible for my own well being, in addition to all of my classes. At first, I struggled with remembering to not let my room get too messy or spending my money wisely. But by the end of the year, I had a routine down and I felt as if was as responsible as I could be for a college freshman. I could do my own laundry, keep my room tidy and orderly, all while remembering to buy new groceries when I needed to and keeping up with my schoolwork and college organizations.
With these lessons in mind, I am even more excited for my sophomore year than my freshman year. I will be able to manage my time well enough to join more activities on campus and hang out with my friends, but also maintain my Dean’s List GPA and succeed with my academic goals. With my new sense of determination, I plan on pursuing several more leadership opportunities in the fall, including applying to be a ROAR tour guide, and attending the Leadershape conference over winter break to shape and better my leadership qualities. Now that I have learned how to be responsible as an independent adult, I cannot wait to live in the newly built Morgens resident hall next year. After learning these three crucial lessons and more throughout my time as a freshman here at the hottest college in America, I can say with confidence that my sophomore year will exceed my expectations, and be just as enlightening as my freshman year. I am excited to see what this year holds!
Pictures: (Left to Right)
1. Me and my future roommate Sarah at a Bearcats football game
2. Myself with some of my Chi Omega sisters I after being initiated
3. Homecoming with my Chi Omega sisters (and my actual sister!)