Coming into college, I had a rough idea of what university classes would be like, but this semester, especially with CPSG, ended up being different in ways I didn’t fully expect. The structure of CPSG100 was extremely welcoming and genuinely enjoyable. The class always started with a lecture and then questions at the end, which meant I actually had to pay attention. I liked that the questions were done in teams with people I hadn’t really met before. It pushed me to talk to classmates outside of my usual bubble, and it made the class feel more like a small community instead of just another lecture hall.
What really stood out to me, though, was the delivery from Dr. Merck and Dr. Holtz. Both of them are charismatic in their own ways, whether it’s through dry humor or just the obvious excitement they have for what they teach, and that made a huge difference. In high school, I had some teachers who clearly didn’t enjoy the subjects they taught and were only doing it because they had to. In CPSG, it was the opposite. You could tell the professors cared, and that energy made learning more fun. The field trips especially highlighted that. Getting to go off campus with the class wasn’t just educational; it helped me bond with people in the program, like during the DC trip, and it even let me reconnect with friends from home who now study in NYC. The graded assignments were also manageable. As long as I did the readings or actually listened in class, the quizzes and questions weren’t difficult. That helped a lot with keeping my workload reasonable while still feeling like I was learning something important alongside people who were also interested in science and global change.
There were also topics covered in CPSG100 that I didn’t expect at all. For example, I didn’t realize we would get into things like ocean and wind currents, though it makes sense because they’re connected to global change. At the same time, I expected we might spend a little more time on solutions to global problems, but I’m guessing that’s something we’ll get into next semester. What surprised me the most, though, was how fun the outside-of-class activities ended up being. I thought they’d be more strict or structured, but they actually gave us a lot of freedom. I realized that in college, you’re treated as a responsible adult, and that trust makes the experiences feel more real and not just like school activities. I loved that.
Outside of CPSG, my overall experience as a university student has been pretty different from how I imagined college during high school. I live in Cumberland in the Cambridge community, and college life definitely gives you a lot more freedom, but in a way that I was actually ready for. I didn’t struggle much with the responsibilities I suddenly had, but I did find it surprisingly difficult to keep track of meals. It’s easy to forget to eat when you’re juggling assignments, social events, and just trying to keep up with everything happening around you.
Despite the adjustment, I found my group of friends pretty quickly. I also lucked out with my roommate, we get along extremely well, which I did not expect. Her family even housed me for fall break and Thanksgiving when I couldn’t go home to Puerto Rico. That meant a lot, especially since being far from home can get hard on random days when you least expect it. Academically, my high school being college prep helped, because the pace and teaching style felt familiar. That being said, some exams were definitely tougher than I imagined.
If I had to give advice to future SGC students, the first thing I’d tell them is: don’t overthink everything. I was a huge overthinker, especially being out of state and Hispanic, worrying I wouldn’t find my community here. Even though I don’t have a huge Spanish-speaking community around me, I still found amazing friends who make me feel at home. They take me in, feed me, and even bring me to Thanksgiving with their whole families, which is something I never would’ve imagined when I first moved here. Another piece of advice is to go to class, even when the cold makes you want to hide in your bed. I’m from PR, the cold here actually feels painful, but showing up to class is worth it. You’re at a good university with good professors, and not everyone gets this opportunity. Also: apply for scholarships. Seriously. And don’t waste time worrying about what people think of you. It’s a big campus. No one is paying that much attention. Just be kind, give back when you can, even if it’s as small as cleaning up after yourself so the maintenance staff has an easier job, or joining a service club to help out the community.
When it comes to my non-academic life this semester, it was a mix of challenges, benefits, disappointments, and a few unexpected highlights. The hardest part was balancing everything without getting overwhelmed. Being far from home added another layer to that, especially on days when I missed my family, the warmth, or just familiar food. But there were also a lot of small moments that made me really grateful for where I am, the friendships I built, the independence I’ve gained, and the little surprises, like my roommate’s family taking me in. Those weren’t things I expected, but they shaped my semester in a positive way.
Overall, this semester taught me that college isn’t exactly what you picture in high school, it’s messier, more challenging, more freeing, and way more meaningful than I expected. And even though it hasn’t always been easy, I’m ending the semester feeling more confident, more settled, and excited for what’s coming next.