This semester has been by far the most memorable semester in my college career. I felt like I’ve learned so much more in one semester than I have my previous years. After commuting to school for the past two and a half years, I decided to live on campus for the first time. It was a transition, but I felt that I needed to have the experience of actually living on my own. I needed to break out of my shell.
Living in a dorm for the first time was such a great experience for me, especially because I had a solid group of friends. The daily rituals like breakfast with John, group dinners, and study lounge invasions mean so much to me and it was all made special because of them. What makes our friendship special is not just the fact that we saw each other every day and night, but that we all lived together in the same residence hall. I can’t wait for next year when we all live together in the same apartment.
When I first moved up here, I was driven and more focused than before. Being closer to school was exactly what I thought I needed to succeed. At one point I used to commute to school, go back home (which was thirty-five minutes away), and end up driving back to school because I couldn’t focus or concentrate unless I was in a school environment. Once I lived at school, my concentration was great and I thought I was ready to take on the tasks at hand.
It wasn’t such an easy transition. It seemed that people didn’t really sleep before 12AM. Trying to keep up with everything, I became a juggler at a circus trying to balance everything around me: school work, friends, family, music, and etc. Insomnia settled in and obliterated my sleep cycle. All in all, things were not going so well during the middle of the semester. It was a tough swim fighting against a rough current, but I made it with my head above water at the end.
Looking back on my struggles, I can reflect and see how I could have fixed them. Though it was a new environment, I shouldn’t have changed my study habits. I should have utilized the counseling center and work on the most important course of all: me. I should have attacked my weaknesses and struggles head on before they manifested themselves into some much bigger problems. I should have spoken up instead of being stubborn. The solution was to effectively communicate and address the problems at hand. Don’t let silly little things get in the way of the big picture. No matter what, keep focused and keep pushing through.
It was my first semester living on my own and I’m glad to say that I made it! As for other advice I could give about being on campus - keep yourself busy. Make friends, be active on campus, and participate in school activities. Don’t take these opportunities for granted. I broke out of my shell this semester by performing at Open Mic and the Poetry Slam, both experiences felt amazing. Find your niche. Discover what makes you happy and do it. Look inside yourself and ask “What do I really want to do?” and simply go out and do it. Break out of your shell and dive in to unknown waters. It might be scary at first, but you’ll discover something about yourself that you would never have known before.
How was your first experience with living in the dorms? Were a commuter like me who then later moved in? What ways have you broken out of your shell?
{ 0 comments }
