"Find yourself at the University of Maryland," I read on the sticker panel of a palm-sized promotional UMD booklet as a high school student. I didn’t expect to find change. The courses I was taking have always been relatively rigorous, both in pacing and material. I was also very comfortable with the friends I had. I didn’t expect to be too surprised, no matter what college I went to... because the course structures won’t really be new to me, and I was sure I’d continue talking to my good friends. When I chose to commute to UMD, I thought, I’m here to learn lots and lots and to stay close to home. Coming into University, I guess, I didn’t really want to find change. The sticker was quickly disregarded, but never entirely. In fact, I could still find the booklet sitting in the corner of my room 3 months into the semester. I’d find it with stickers I never realized were there. Just as UMD helped me find experiences that I never realized I could use.
I could keep thinking about the courses I’m taking over and over, and I'll still think that it’s nothing incredibly new. The structure of each course hasn’t been anything too far from what I’ve been able to handle in the past. If anything, my courses in my first semester feel like a repeat of my high school courses. However, something I was taught in an IB Theory of Knowledge course is that even if you take the same course twice, there will be irreplicable bits and pieces to it. So, although the structures and a lot of the material might not be too new to me, there’s still enough to keep me curious; to keep me wondering, what else can I learn here?
My Science and Global Change (SGC) first-year colloquium (CPSG100) was barely an exception to this trend of repeated courses, but it brought unique points and facilitated critical socialization nonetheless. CPSG100 was like a mix of my IB Environmental Sciences and Societies class, where we spoke about environmental science, and my IB Theory of Knowledge course, where we covered logical fallacies and pseudoscience. One thing that I did find intriguing was how in-depth climatology was this semester. But hopefully, I will see more of that in the future! What I found most appealing about this course, however, was the professors, peers, and the unique excursions that CPSG100 facilitated. None of my classes in the past purposefully facilitated learning experiences outside of the classroom like CPSG100, and it’s often a gratifying experience to get to know peers, especially as a commuter. That said, CPSG100 is one of the few courses where the structure and delivery of material is pleasant, while the rest were more often underwhelming or something that didn’t feel like a big change.
A small side note: the one class structure that does throw me off a little bit is my chemistry class, where your grade depends mostly on exams, with little emphasis on homework. Actually, there still hasn’t been a single homework grade input into the Canvas system, so it’s like they never existed. With that said, the inability to see accurate and up-to-date grades like once possible in high school this year has thrown me off a little bit. But still, nothing unreasonable. I think I’ve done relatively well in managing my academics this year; it’s teaching me to keep pushing forward and to keep myself accountable.
Now, remember when I said nothing changed? If we’re talking purely academics, then yes, there’s been minimal change. But university is so much more than that; it's four years where you’ll live with brand new people (even if you’re a commuter like me). I don’t know when, but I made all sorts of friends, each with different interests and viewpoints. I don't know when, but I’ll find myself spending late nights with people I’d never imagine talking to, playing cards or games, or watching a show projected onto a dorm lounge wall. I don’t know when, but I found people that I can rely on, and people that I truly want to be there for.
Our lives are now largely academic, but that doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be room for community. And even if you never reserved a room in your life specifically for a new community, just like I didn’t, it might just waltz in and stick itself somewhere in your life anyway. For any future SGC scholars who need help easing into college, I’d tell them: Relax. You don’t know everything, so don’t expect to, and don’t think you do. Stay shocked, stay curious. After all, you might "find yourself" when you least expect it.