Welcome Class of 2022! The next few weeks are going to be some of the most exciting, emotional, and memorable of your life. Parents will be crying over watching their baby go into the world all by themselves, classes might seem intimidating, and all the freedom and decisions that you need to make is overwhelming. I’m not going to be that upperclassman giving you a play-by-play of what to do and what not do, a “How to Survive Stevens” guide, or anything like that. Instead I’m here to tell you to make it your own!
I don’t think I had the stereotypical “college” experience my freshman year. I didn’t go to frat parties (because that wasn’t really my scene), didn’t join a sorority, and wasn’t best friends with my roommate. I’m not saying this is either the right or wrong college experience, it’s just what most movies portray. I had my own different experiences from what movies told me or what my friends from other colleges experienced. I even had different experiences from my friends, who made up my experiences.
There were times that it upset me. There were times that I felt like I was doing something wrong. There were times that I felt like I had to change to do college “right.” Yet, what I have realized is that I don’t regret a single thing. Every experience that I had taught me and made me the person that I am. I like my story, I like that it’s different from “what it’s supposed to be.” I like it because it’s MY story, and I wrote it.
I didn’t let the desires of either my friends or my family define what my time at Stevens was going to be like. I went to events, clubs, etc… that my friends weren’t interested in and I met new people. I joined clubs and took on leadership roles when my parents wanted me to stay more focused on school. I decided to do co-op when most of my friends weren’t.
College is the top of opportunities. College is the time for you to become the writer of your own story. Now I’m not saying be reckless and disregard everything that people are advising you to do. All I’m saying is don’t be afraid to not fit into the mold of a stereotypical college student. As long as you are proud of the decisions you make and are learning from your mistakes, freshman year is going to be great. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try new things. Don’t be afraid to have experiences, and definitely don’t be afraid to have experiences that are different.
Just think to yourself, “If I look back on my freshmen year 10 years from now, did I do everything that I wanted to do?”
Be First to Comment