Kidus Ayalew "Freshmen Time Capsule" Essay

My first semester at UMD has taken many turns and gone off track, but it has led me down a better road in life. Entering college, I expected to lock myself in the library or my room and just study day after day. However, I realized how wrong this thinking was. Obviously, studying is extremely important to one's success; however, one's life outside of academics is equally important to look at.

Coming to college, theres been many challenges. As a Computer Engineering major, I dread the courses that I have to take, and the current courses that I am taking right now have made me take so much out of my life and reach the depths of my mind that I never thought were possible. Physics 1, CMSC132, and Calc 2 have truly been one-of-a-kind courses, but the funny thing is, in four years, when I look back, I’ll realize they would have been the easiest classes I could have taken as a Computer Engineering major. The strategies I used to take my courses were extremely simple. If you need help, do not be afraid to ask for help. It makes no sense not to use school resources when you pay tens of thousands of dollars to attend a school. Making friends in classes or studying with friends are also helpful ways for one to succeed in their classes.

Honestly, I cannot say that I’ve truly connected with the faculty on campus because sometimes, some teachers are just not as easily approachable and only teach because they have to. But ideally, the best thing for someone to do to approach a teacher is to approach them smartly, but at the same time, be thick-skinned, meaning, even if they seem harsh or whatnot, keep on visiting them, keep on asking questions, so that when they start seeing you, they’ll start to appreciate the fact that someone is going to such lengths to connect with a teacher, showing your dedication to the class.

I cannot express how blessed I’ve been with my friends. The funny thing is, though, that the friends I’ve made are completely different from the friends I had back in high school. Regardless of such differences, they’ve impacted my college experience in such a monumental way that I cannot thank them enough for the ways they’ve helped me. Whenever I leave my physics lecture, I’m always in a grumpy mood since I have to sit in Record Armory, where it's extremely hot, and to top it off, the class is basically filled to the brim with students, making it even hotter. Leaving lectures, I feel down, but whenever I meet my friends, my worries or concerns always leave within seconds. Even if they don’t, they always offer to listen to my needless rant about physics and whether or not I understand what's currently happening. The friends I’ve made have been one of a kind, and thankfully, I know that we’ll continue being friends since I’ve lived with all the males next semester, helping our connection as friends grow even stronger.

While at times I felt like I was ready for college, there were times when I continued to be shocked by what I saw. For me, no matter how much I prepared, there was nothing that could help me get ready for the sheer size of this school. I went to a moderately small school, and going to UMD, walking 10 minutes from classes to my dorm has been such an eye-opener of an experience. There’s also the fact that some people come to UMD, leaving their families behind and many of the friends they’ve made in their lives, making a completely fresh start. Some people can adapt to this easily, but some cannot. Personally, I didn’t adapt as fast, but as I said previously, the friends I made helped the transition from high school to college a lot easier than it would have had I not known them. I recommend for future students not to force things. Ease into college, whether it be fast or slow. It’d be a waste to rush trying to find friends, and then you find out they may not be the kind of people you're looking for, wasting your time. Working oneself is also a great thing to do since truly understanding yourself can help you make better decisions in the future.

Do not fear college. Enjoy it. To be honest, school will get rough. There will be times when you’ll wanna quit; however, persevere. Push, push, push until you succeed. This sounds corny, but it will take so far. If you don’t believe in yourself, who will? Everything starts with you.

Last modified: 11 December 2023