My first semester of college did not go as expected. When applying to the University of Maryland as a senior in high school, I thought that my life would be like a movie, filled with fun, independence, and instant friendships. However, my expectations were not reality. I found it hard to meet new people, struggled to develop a routine, had difficulty keeping up with my classes, and often felt a lot of pressure to succeed. Despite these challenges, I still managed to make great memories and better myself as a person.
As a student who is from Maryland, I had this idea that I would stick to my highschool friends and wouldn't need to branch out much. I expected everyone to do the same as me too. This was true for some, but not everyone. I know people who only hang out with people they already knew from high school, but I, on the other hand, have made new connections while maintaining my old ones. My roommate and I instantly clicked and have become inseparable. She’s introduced me to her old friends and I’ve introduced her to mine. Due to this, I’ve made so many meaningful connections with people I never would’ve made otherwise. I’ve also made some good study buddies in my classes. At first, I was hesitant to talk to the people sitting next to me or spark up conversations after class, but I later realized that everyone was in the same boat as me. So, just simple conversations at first led to late nights in the library with my friends.
My routine, however, was another story. Before college, I told myself that I would wake up early, go to sleep early, go to the gym consistently, and stay on top of my assignments. In reality, I stayed up late, woke up late, skipped gym sessions, and procrastinated more than I’d like to admit. It took me a while to adjust to having complete independence with no parents or teachers holding me accountable. To improve, I started organizing my weeks with Google Calendar by writing all my tasks and events. Also, I studied with friends who shared similar goals as me and I reminded myself that I worked hard to get here, so I needed to keep that same effort going.
Academically, I struggled the most. College classes were much faster-paced and more demanding than I expected. In high school, I knew all the names of my classmates, I knew every teacher personally, and I wasn’t as stressed to excel in my classes. In contrast, college classes cover a year’s worth of material in a few months. The biggest difference was the weight of graded exams. In high school, midterms and exams were only about 10% of my grade; however, in college, they can make up almost 80% of your overall grade. My first few exams were definitely a reality check, as I underestimated how much one low score would affect my overall grade. These experiences taught me the importance of consistent studying, asking for help, and staying on top of things.
Specifically in CPSG 100, I did not expect to learn so much about the science part of global change, despite the program name: “Science and Global Change.” I came in thinking that we would be learning about the basics of global change, like recycling and sustainability. It was refreshing to start by learning about the fundamentals of what climate and science actually is. People often think they have an understanding of topics without knowing the basics.
Moreover, I did not expect to go on field trips in this course. The volunteer trip to the water lilies was a super fun experience to get our hands dirty and learn more about the local ecosystems in Maryland. The D.C. assignment was one of my favorite memories this semester. Despite going to D.C. several times since I was little, I had a fun time going to the museums with my classmates, who I can now call my friends. In the middle of our assignment, we came across a Thai food festival where we tried Thai tea and traditional Thai desserts. It was a great bonding experience and definitely a great way to explore the new city for out of state students.
As a University student, life is definitely not how I expected it to be. I had this whole perception that my life in college would be perfect, but it was a mix of stress, freedom, and opportunities. The workload was stressful at times, but the independence I gained introduced me to so many new experiences. For example, I’ve had the chance to try new hobbies like spikeball on La Plata Beach and play pickleball on the tennis courts. The dining hall also exceeded my expectations. I’ve heard way too many horror stories about college dining hall food, so I was skeptical about my diet coming to college. But UMD does a good job of providing unique and diverse menu options, which I’ve learned to appreciate.
To new SGC students, I want to say: don’t be scared to try new things since everyone is in the same position too. Nobody is actually judging you, so make use of your freewill to try new things. Study hard since you worked hard to get here, but make sure to balance academics with social life too. Take the metro to D.C. to explore and join clubs that interest you. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Professors love when you reach out, so go to office hours, send an email, or start talking to the people in your classes. Coming to a new environment is a chance to grow as a person, so don’t be afraid, be extroverted, and say yes to (almost) everything.
This semester has been challenging, but also fulfilling. I’ve doubted myself due to stress, but I’ve also built friendships and skills that I value. My experience in SGC has helped me appreciate real science and find a community within campus. Although my first semester didn’t meet my expectations, It has been a good start to my college experience.