Freshman year here at the University of Maryland has certainly been different from what I would have expected even just one year ago. While I have had a significant shift from a seven-hour school day just ten minutes from home to living on campus full time, I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience far more than I could have imagined as a high school student.
When looking back to Fall 2022 when I applied to UMD as an Undecided Engineering Major, I never would have thought I would switch my major not once but twice in the time I've been here and certainly not to Bioengineering. Engineering classes, specifically Introduction to Engineering (ENES100), Biology for Engineers Lab (BIOE121), and surprisingly Mechanics I (ENES102) have allowed me to have the greatest realizations about my major and even my future. Even though I was not a mechanical engineering major for very long, I quickly found that I did not enjoy even the introductory classes within the major and few, if any, upper level classes were appealing to me. After researching the four year plans of a variety of majors in and outside of the A. James Clark School of Engineering as well as understanding my weaknesses academically, I figured out that Bioengineering felt like the best fit for me. Since I have switched majors, I am far more motivated to continue pursuing this major far more than I ever would have if I remained in MechE. I'm even thinking about graduate school now along with internships in the meantime. Even though declaring a different major was daunting for me, the benefits of exploring and finding a major I truly enjoyed outweighs any stress and questioning I had before finally making the decision to switch.
Some of the greatest connections I've made so far have been through teaching assistants or teaching fellows, especially once I got over the fear of asking for help. Maryland is a giant campus and I still run into TA's I have currently or from last semester. Oftentimes they at least wave or stop to have a conversation. Asking TA's for help academically isn't the only way to bond with TA's, especially in a class such as ENES100. ENES100 requires a ton of time spent in the lab outside of class time allowing you to bond not only with your assigned TA but others as well. Although there are a ton of opportunities to bond with TAs it may be overwhelming to balance connecting with TAs during discussions/office hours along with all of your other events and classes. Bonding with TA's also aids your connections with professors in the long run.
I know I have certainly heard it hundreds of times, but joining clubs and trying new things are some of the best ways to meet new people. You will certainly meet people through scholars, university honors, or simply on your dorm floor, but putting yourself out there and dedicating time to new friendships will help your transition to college a ton. Sending a simple text checking in with a friend on campus, family at home, or even reaching out to someone from high school can help, especially if you are feeling homesick. I have ended up meeting a wide variety of people beyond just freshmen or students from my county…a lot of these people are now my closest friends on campus!
The most challenging part throughout the past two semesters was finding the right balance between expectations for myself, particularly academically, and taking care of myself. To put it simply, college is hard. A difficult reality I have had to come to grips with is that high school classes, even some AP classes, do not properly represent the caliber college classes are at. In turn, I have had to realize that receiving A+’s in every class is not always possible even if you are dedicating hundreds of hours to the subject. It's okay to make mistakes and even retake a class. I do know it is easier said than done and I still struggle even at the end of my first full year at college. Prioritizing a few more hours of sleep or having a full meal will make a bigger difference than that extra time spent studying. Take care of yourself and good luck!