As this first semester at UMD comes to an end, I’ve been thinking a lot about the difference between what I expected college to be and what it has actually been like. I came in with ideas about how classes would run, how campus life might feel, and what being part of SGC would add to my experience. Some things matched what I predicted, but more things surprised me. This semester has reshaped how I understand independence, community, academics, and my own ability to adjust to new situations.
My classes outside CPSG100 were one of the first big differences from high school. The lecture style feels completely new to me. In high school, learning felt like a very step by step process where teachers made sure everyone stayed on track. In college, you’re solely responsible for taking meaning from every lecture. If you want to get something out of the class that you're paying for, it is entirely on you to take notes, ask questions, show up and follow through. I actually expected this, so it did not shock me, but living it still felt like a kind of whiplash. The structure and delivery of the classes, along with how assignments and tests are set up, require a level of independence that takes time to get used to. Nothing was impossible, but everything required me to be more intentional about how I manage my work as someone who has a bad habit of procrastination.
CPSG100, on the other hand, surprised me in a different way. I did not expect us to spend time talking about conspiracy theories or the psychology behind them. I thought we would focus more on environmental policy, which we did not explore this semester. Even so, I really enjoyed the material we covered. It pushed me to think more critically about how people understand science and how misinformation spreads. I’m actually taking SOCY223, the class on conspiracy theories, concurrently so it was interesting to see the connections between the two courses. The outside of classroom activities were also different from what I imagined. I expected them to be more serious or rigid, but they were hands on and incredibly fun, and they made the class feel more connected to everyday life. CPSG100 ended up being a very interesting part of my semester because it opened new ways of thinking that I had not considered before.
Life as a university student has been the biggest shift of all. I grew up with a routine where you go to school, see your friends, and then go straight home. I assumed part of that rhythm would follow me into college. That is not what happened. I feel incredibly free here. Before arriving, I was scared I wouldn’t make friends, but friendships in college form naturally. You fall into them without even realizing it. I have met people who truly feel like my community. I can go where I want, make my own schedule, and explore campus life, and that freedom has been one of the most joyful parts of my first semester.
If I were giving advice to future SGC students, I would tell them not to rush themselves. I spent the first few weeks trying to adjust to everything at once. I wanted to learn my schedule immediately, adapt to living away from home right away, and make friends as fast as possible. None of this actually happens overnight. Give yourself two months to adjust. You will make great friends, and you will learn how to live on your own. It’s also completely okay to miss your family or want to go home. You do not need to force yourself to wait until Thanksgiving break. I have a great on campus life, and I still go home every other week because I like seeing my family.
This semester also connected in unexpected ways to my life outside academics. I got very sick for about a month. It was constant and draining, and I am still recovering from it now. In high school, adults would hover and make sure you took time off if you needed it. In college, the world keeps moving no matter how you feel, so I felt a lot of pressure to keep going. I only missed two classes during that entire month, which was incredibly difficult and not sustainable. At the same time, being sick brought me closer to my friends. They checked in on me, bought me food, and helped in ways I didn’t expect. So something very difficult also became a highlight, because it showed me the kind of support system I have here.
Another challenge was balancing my very close family with my academic life. I am extremely grateful to have parents who want to see me often, siblings who call me every day, and relatives who want to visit. It can also be overwhelming when I am busy. I had to learn how to balance school with staying connected to the people I love. This semester taught me that balance is possible, but it takes honesty, planning, and a lot of patience.
Overall, my first semester in SGC and at UMDhas been full of surprises, growth, challenges, and moments of joy. It was not exactly what I imagined, but I am proud of how I adjusted and how much I learned about myself and the world around me. And even with the ups and downs, I would not trade this experience for anything, because it feels like the beginning of something meaningful.