Throughout my first year in college, I have been in a few classes that definitely helped me see the difference between being a university student compared to a high school student. For me, the courses that were the most impactful were CMSC 216 and CCJS 225. For me, CMSC 216 taught me how difficult a class was when it was massive and the teachers weren’t accessible to students. Although there were office hours, they were hard to get into as there was a queue that would sometimes take hours. This taught me that the courses I complained about in high school were relatively good in comparison to some classes in college. Additionally, CCJS 225 taught me that a passionate teacher can make courses fun and engaging, even if they’re about violence. Despite the online environment, I was kept engaged with the information. For me, developing relationships with faculty was hard and difficult because I’m online. This is the biggest obstacle as it’s more difficult to create an interpersonal connection with somebody you have never met. For me, I recommend that incoming students who don’t have to experience an online environment should definitely talk to their professors and university staff. Because I’m from this area, I know a few faculty members through connections and I know that many of them have a lot to offer. Additionally, adjusting is not easy for new students. For me, many of the people I talked to in high school went to different places so it was difficult to stay connected. Maybe it was easier as COVID showed me the people I could stay close with, even in times as difficult as these, but for new students, I’d like to warn that you shouldn’t be surprised as you and your friendships break apart over time. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing as college is the opportunity to reinvent yourselves. Close living situations definitely creates an environment where people can meet others and develop closer bonds, some that may last a lifetime. Additionally, it’s also important to stay connected with upperclassmen that you know. Knowing students that are used by the university is definitely an important part of college as it can help you settle in and understand the workings. It’s also important to get their wisdom on what classes to take, what to do, and when to do certain things. In retrospect, the part of college that I was least ready for the discussions that many classes had. Although this may sound weird, having discussions is difficult because many of the people in my classes stay muted. On the chance that somebody does unmute, it’s different talking to them because it’s all online so you don’t have the connection you would have had if you were in person. I don’t think future students will have problems here as we’re shifting back to in person classes, however, it’s just something I noticed. Overall, I believe that college has been a good experience and I think future students will enjoy it, but that’s from the perspective of an online student who spent his first year at home.