Uma Trivedi's Freshman Time Capsule Essay
For me, freshman year was full of tons of new experiences and challenges that helped me become a better and more well-rounded person. My freshman year mainly consisted of GenEds or prerequisites to other classes I'd be taking in the next couple of years, however, one of my electives, ENGL265, was one of the most interesting and rewarding courses I have taken so far. ENGL265 or LGBTQ+ Literatures & Media Queer Media Histories consisted of discussions and analysis of different media forms that represented queerness and queer experiences throughout history and present time. This class allowed me to take a break from all the STEM classes I am required to take, and let me use my critical thinking skills in a fun creative form in which I could interact and relate to my peers. Incoming students should always try a course that they think might be exciting or fun, even if they don’t know much about the topic(s). It’ll give you the opportunity to try something new and meet more people that might be interested in the same things as you.
Communication is key, especially during freshman year. I quickly got to know my Animal Science 101 professor and it is one of the relationships I cherish the most. She is very good at helping you find new experiences and learn what else is out there for people in the major. I always advise people to meet with their professors and introduce themselves because in the future you may need them to write you a recommendation or give you good advice for the rest of your schooling and life.
Freshman year brings a lot of new and difficult experiences that everyone goes through, key word, everyone. Everyone has a challenging transition to make and talking to people about it or just trying to get to know someone can make that transition much easier. Certain courses can also be more challenging than you expect, purely because of communication issues. Chances are, the other people in the course may be having the same problem as you so you can relate to each other, which can help you get through the course together. Finding the right people can be difficult but it is possible even if it takes time. Try to meet people in your program because you might be seeing the same people over the next 4 years and you all need to help and support each other.
I always knew college was going to be harder than high school, but I was not prepared for managing the work loads that come with the harder classes. In college it’s very important to learn how to both prioritize and leave time for yourself, especially around exam season. It may seem more useful to try and get everything done right away, but that is not realistic. You need to be able to leave time for yourself so you don’t get burnt out and lose motivation, especially when taking difficult classes or having a very busy schedule.
Last modified: 09 May 2025