If I would have to sum up this year and what I've learned as an incoming freshman, I would say that shifting from high school to college was the most expected but unexpected series of events. I wouldn't say I had the clearest of pictures coming into the fall semester, but I certainly was not let down. From the meeting of new people to sitting through lectures with hundreds of other students, each experience proved to be unique and insightful in its own way. These past two semesters I took labs as a part of my required chemistry courses; these certainly weren't the smaller 50 minute labs done previously. Each week would require preparation, and the experiments had to be carried out in a manner that had little to no mistakes to ensure I could even get a result despite having 3 hours to do so. The work I had to put into this class was not just learning concepts, but also applying them and using critical thinking skills to problem-solve and overcome challenges along the way. During this process, I was able to form connections with the people around me both in and out of the classroom to work together to help each other succeed. The biggest takeaway I had from this was to network and not hesitate to ask for assistance when needed. The smaller classroom size was also useful when help was needed, unlike some of the lectures seated in large halls. Connecting to faculty was much harder than I would have thought earlier. With the large number of students in each lecture and having multiple sections, it was hard trying to make yourself known and get a good relationship with the professor. Despite this, professors are very willing to help their students, and their office hours are a great place to reach out to ask questions or simply work through problems with them. Aside from the classes, the university has more clubs than imaginable. From major-related ones to almost every other extracurricular, there are so many ways to network with people with similar interests and grow in a community of people who may also be in the same boat as you. Looking even closer, there are people within your own resident hall that share the same major or interests. One of the best parts of my freshman year were the people I met. Living in a smaller hall gave me the chance to meet new people who helped me get through classes, adjust to life on campus, and form friendships I hope to carry forward. Classes at university can be difficult no matter the level and having this close circle of friends allowed me to enjoy my time with them while we pushed each other to our full potential in the classes we shared. Almost all of the people I've interacted with were also looking to connect with people to make the adjustment to college easier. Whether or not you have friends from high school or elsewhere, it is beneficial to meet new people in different environments so you as a person can grow. There are times when I"ve had to sit in the library for hours trying to grind through content, but there are also moments when I would need to sit down and work through problems with others. To any incoming freshman, realize that there are going to be so many new people you meet and you won't be able to form lasting friendships with them, so cherish the time you share currently and be grateful for all of the experiences. After this first year, I've learned a lot about myself and ironically, the independence has given me a sense of security as I navigate through life. I've grown to realize that each accomplishment whether it be academic or personal is important in how I am growing as a person. In the coming years I hope to be able to better adjust to my class schedule and gain more research opportunities. Though I have now established a group of friends I am comfortable with, I look forward to meeting new people within my major as well as in others. Meeting new people has been a great experience in learning about different parts of what college has to offer, and I hope to continue to do so during my time here at UMD.