An Honest Review of My First Year at College

“College, the best four years of your life.” I heard this line countless times as I began my first year at the U of M. Before moving in, I felt eager to start this new chapter. As I walked into my dorm for the first time, my mind whirled with emotions. I was sad that I was leaving my family and friends behind, yet I was looking forward to my newfound freedom and opportunities to explore and learn more about myself as an individual. 

My first week on campus was an overwhelming whirlwind of an experience. I was constantly surrounded by new faces, expected to socialize with everyone I could as a way to make new friends. I was socially drained by the end of each day. Admittedly, once school finally started, everything began to calm down a little. People stopped making their rounds from door to door to say hello and started to settle into a new routine. 

After the first couple weeks, I expected to have smoothly adjusted to college life. For me, this was far from the case. I spent most of my first semester trying to find a way to make campus feel more at home. I had a good friend group, yet I felt out of place. I felt homesick most days even though I only lived half an hour away. I counted the days until the next time I could leave campus. I contemplated if I had made the right choice coming to the U of M. 

The fall semester felt like it would never end. As winter break crept forward, I started to see the light at the end of a long and tiring tunnel. The break offered a much-needed separation from school and work. I took this as an opportunity to assess what was making me feel so off when I was at school. After taking a good hard look at my experiences, I realized I wasn’t fully giving college a chance. I was only looking at the small picture of college, not the much larger vision. 

Returning to campus for the spring semester was a little daunting, but I was determined to go into this semester with a more optimistic mindset. I joined several clubs and started taking classes that piqued my interest. These activities helped keep me busy and allowed me to grow and explore more of my interests. As the semester progressed, I opened up to new experiences and opportunities outside my comfort zone. I finally started to feel like I belonged on this campus. 

The spring semester flew by in little to no time. And I finished my first year of college. 

In retrospect, I have learned so much about myself and my capabilities. Yet, during the fall semester, I thought there was no way I would ever enjoy college. Not only was I able to prove myself wrong, but I was also able to learn a valuable lesson. College may not the best years of your life, but they will probably be your most formative years. Your college experience is what you make of it. It’s a different experience for everyone, one that has its’ ups and downs. But remember that things eventually get better—and that you are not alone in how you feel!

Good work this year, Gophers. I’m looking forward to a nice summer at home—and am excited to return promptly to campus in the fall for Year 2.