SURVIVING FRESHMAN YEAR

I would be lying if I said this year has been easy. From freshman 15 to late night studying for exams that greatly deflate grades to sleepless nights and unnecessary drama, it’s been an eventful year. I would also be lying if I said I had no regrets. It’s upsetting but I actually have quite a few. I regret going out and partying when I should instead be studying; not visiting the gym as often as I’d like and eating trash food and not speaking up in class as much as I should.

Most of these things I practiced in my freshman year, however, and I believe I’ve come a long way since then. I realized the main reason I’m at college and my entire focus shifted. I started eating better, working out more often, studying more, communicating more and not going out as much. As time progressed, I also learnt how to handle money better and make wiser decisions. Of course my semester wasn’t perfect, I could have handled many things better but for me some progress is better than none.

Some takeaways and suggestions I could offer are to go out and also study- maintain a balance. It’s one or the other for me, I still don’t know how to balance a social and studious lifestyle and I’m still learning. Also, it’s okay to repeat a class if you feel you’d do better the next time- sometimes it may be the right place but not the right time, there’s no reason to be ashamed of it, everyone moves at their own pace. Moreover, try to not be too influenced by your peers and don’t lose your individuality in the process. It’s important to choose the people you spend time with wisely but you never how a person truly is until you reach your second semester. Furthermore, watch what you put inside your body, it’s easy to get carried away and don’t forget to work out or at least walk enough daily.

There’s so much there is to know but most of it is learned through experience. All in all, it’s important to have friends that will always have your back and know how to have fun but also know how to guide you in the right direction. They’re your family at college and you’re getting to pick your family so make sure you choose wisely. While my year has been far from perfect, I have met some great people and learnt and grown so much as a person and while I often feel that I’m not living, just surviving, I can’t help feeling that the only way to go from here is, up.

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University Diary by Rashi

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