Freshmen Year |
My freshmen year at the University of Cincinnati was one that pleasantly surprised me. Looking back to last summer, I was filled with so much anxiety about whether I had made the right choice and if I would find my niche in such a big university. I was the only one from my tight knit high school to go to UC. I was leaving behind my support system and friends and that scared me. But I had set goals for myself for my time at UC. I wanted to explore every opportunity that came my way, I wanted to reach out and put myself out there in order to meet new people, I wanted to find my role in the UC community and I wanted to academically set myself apart. I can proudly say that I’ve made much progress on my goals this past year.
Going into the year, like every new college student, I had very high hopes that my roommates and I would get along. I learned early on that I was not destined to be best friends forever with my two roommates. This was especially hard because I didn’t feel comfortable in my room, which was just about the only place I could truly call my own in my new school. But in the end, I grew and learned a lot from living with two people that I did not see eye to eye with. I learned to better communicate with others, adapt to new situations and to compromise. Because I disliked being in my room majority of the time, this pushed me to meet new people even more. I created great friendships with the people that lived around me on my floor and those in my major. These friendships were the new support system that I was hoping to find. Whenever I needed a place to escape my room, it was comforting to know that I could find a friend next door, down the hall or in class. From this unfortunate living situation, I’ve come to understand how the power of a friendship can have such an impact on me. I worked towards achieving my other goals by rushing my sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma. I wanted to be involved in different clubs, service opportunities, and make a name for myself in such a large school. Deciding to rush Kappa was one of the best decisions I made; it not only helped me become more involved in the community but also broadened my relationships. I was able to live out a passion of mine to help others by volunteering for different philanthropy projects. This led me to an opportunity to help organize a Color Run held on campus. I was also pushed academically because of the high standards and value Kappa puts on being dedicated to your studies. I feel that I have truly found my community in Kappa at UC. Reflecting on my first year, I believe that I’ve changed and matured but the one thing that has stayed the same is my passion. My passion to help others led me to pursue a career in nursing. I am happy to say that that passion has only grown throughout this past year and I couldn’t be more excited to continue this academic path. I have a new mindset and a few new goals that I have set for myself. Last year I got caught up with worrying about the little things, which could blind me from the bigger picture. My goal for this year is to believe and be more confident in myself. I want to live by the sane advice that my mom always tells me which is that things will work out one way or another. I am very proud of my freshmen year and couldn’t be more excited for all the potential and future endeavors that are coming my way sophomore year. |