As Family Weekend approached, I found myself spiraling into a pit of confusion. Was I supposed to show my parents around this place that I have only known for a month? How were we going to be entertained? Will I use all of my guest meal swipes this weekend? And, most importantly, will my dad know the campus better than I do?
That last question is something that few students need to worry about, but my dad is a Stevens alum. His four years of experience far surpass my measly four weeks of living here. Although I can navigate around campus, have a decent grasp on my schedule, and have made some friends, I still feel very inexperienced. I am reminded of my freshman status every time I forget the name of a building or can’t find a class. He, on the other hand, still seems to know the campus like the back of his hand.
Now that Family Weekend came and went, I can confirm that I did show my parents around the campus, we were our own source of entertainment, no meal swipes were used, and my dad does in fact know the campus better than I do. None of that really mattered though, because I was focused on spending time with my parents since I likely won’t see them for another month or so.
In some ways, this weekend was the break I needed to recover from the freshman burnout that was beginning to set in. We are at that awkward point in the year when we are still settling into the swing of college, but are expected to take on a full course load. Students have not adjusted to the food at the dining hall, while simultaneously being tired of it, and breaking into the $230 dining dollars included in the Tera Bite meal plan. We all have some friends, or at least acquaintances, but most people are still looking to expand their friend groups. It feels like this time period is the worst of both worlds. We are still experiencing the growing pains involved with settling into college, but the new and exciting aspects have become dull as they become part of everyday life.
Students are coping with the one month burnout in a variety of ways. Some are barely leaving their rooms due to a seemingly eternal social battery drainage. Others can be found wandering around Washington Street all day, trying to avoid sitting down to write the first CAL103 paper of the year. While some of us are still trying to find clubs to join, fellow classmates have already taken on leadership roles in organizations. It seems impossible that students who started school at the same time could be in such different positions, but that is often the case during the first few months.
You might recall my past article mentioning my approach of jamming extracurricular activities into my schedule until it was overflowing. Although it is only one month into the school year, I have already become overwhelmed with schoolwork and decided that this might not be the healthiest way to cope with stress. Instead, I have dedicated myself to a few activities that I truly enjoy. Extra time can always be filled by hanging out with friends, walking by the pier, or grabbing a bagel. Just wander around Washington Street until something catches your attention. There is always something to do (or eat) in Hoboken!
Mind of a Freshman is an Opinion column written by one or two first-year Stevens students to discuss life experiences during their time at Stevens, and other related subject matter.
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