As I near the end of my first semester at UMD and in SGC, I have gone through so many changes and new experiences, both good and bad. Despite this, I feel like I was able to adjust very quickly to my new life as a college student. When I first envisioned college classes, I expected them to be exponentially more difficult than my high school classes and I was very intimidated. However, my worries died down even before I was enrolled at UMD because I took many dual enrollment courses at my high school, giving me a taste of college courses early. It turned out that the courses weren’t too much harder than my high school courses and the workload was very manageable, at least for the 100 and 200 courses. It was very interesting to me how each professor had their own styles of teaching and workload and how these professors were also just normal people and there was nothing to be intimidated about. The biggest difference between high school and college courses was that college courses put a lot more emphasis on self-directed learning. A lot of time, assignments and homework would go beyond what was taught in lectures, and it was up to me to read the textbooks and other readings.
At SGC, I was expecting to learn about climate change and how to fight it. It never crossed my mind that we would start with the basic definition of science itself and different aspects about it. I also did not expect to learn about climate change throughout Earth’s history. Although I didn’t expect it, I am glad we went over those things and the lectures about Earth’s history especially piqued my interest. Another thing I did not expect was the volunteering we did at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. At the time, I thought it was the worst day of my life. I do enjoy volunteering sometimes, but I did not like being out in the scorching sun and getting mud all over myself. However, when I look back at it, there were some enjoyable moments and I feel glad to have been able to serve the local community.
Unlike most of the SGC students, I was assigned to live in Cambridge Hall because the roommate I chose was assigned there. I had heard many bad things about the freshman dorms at UMD and I was a little scared to move in. Luckily, Cambridge Hall was one of the better dorms because of the renovations a while back. Before moving in, I didn’t really know what to expect about dorm life. I was just excited to be out of the supervision of my parents for the first time. Back at home, I had curfews and I always had to ask permission if I wanted to go out of the house. Now, I was able to do whatever I wanted, and go wherever I wanted. However, this freedom wasn’t always a good thing. I quickly realized that I was fully responsible for myself now, and had to restrict myself in order to take care of my health and responsibilities as a student. Compared to my high school life, my life here has been both more liberating and more challenging.
To future SGC students, my biggest advice is to come to college with an open mind, and don’t be too overwhelmed or discouraged when things don’t go a certain way. The first semester is to help assimilate yourself into the college environment and figure out what you want to do. Sometimes, it may take even longer to figure out what you want to do and that is okay. Try to meet as many new people as you can and try out different clubs and activities as you may find yourself liking something you never knew you liked before. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to professors, TAs, or academic advisors if you’re struggling with a class. Resources like tutoring and office hours are there to help you. Most importantly, prioritize self care. With your new found freedom, you may be swept up into doing things that may not be the best for you. It is crucial to get enough sleep and eat proper meals. It is also important to take a break sometimes. Your academics are important, but not as important as your health, both physically and mentally.
Looking back on my first semester at UMD and in SGC, I can see how much I’ve grown and learned through all the changes and new experiences. Some moments were tough, but they helped me adjust to college life and figure out how to handle things on my own. I’ve learned that college isn’t as scary as I thought it would be, and while it has its challenges, it’s also been rewarding. Whether it was navigating classes, living in a dorm, or trying to balance freedom with responsibility, every experience taught me something valuable. Overall, I’m thankful for the opportunities I’ve had so far, and I’m excited to see what’s next.