I feel like one thing that I have always heard about, whether it be from older cousins, siblings, friends, or family, is that the Freshman Flu sucks. Fortunately, I hadn’t had the opportunity to really understand what my loved ones were talking about, that is, until this past week.
I had always heard about how in your first semester of college, you are going to get sick, and regardless of what it is, you are going to be in some of the worst shape you’ve ever been in. I luckily skated past my first semester unscathed, but it was just last week when I felt like I was falling apart.
I had started noticing symptoms on a Friday when my throat started hurting really badly, but I pushed past it, thinking of the dreaded allergy season and the time when post-nasal drip rules the lives of those around me. I hadn’t thought anything much about it until it had decided to continue progressing. For the next four days, I would wake up with some of the worst fevers I’ve ever had. In reality, was it the worst fever I ever had? No. Did it drive me crazy because my room was eighty degrees, and I felt taunted by the air conditioning that wouldn’t turn on? Yes. So while I had experienced worse sickness before, the combination of feeling too tired and sick to move, combined with the guilt of not being able to get my work done, I felt awful.
Each day I would wake up to the number on the thermometer being higher than the last, and everyday I would email apologies to my professors and try to make up for what I hadn’t yet missed. They would graciously offer me extensions. That way I had time to feel better and then another 103.5 degree fever would roll right over all of those assignments.
Long story short, it sucked, and I was desperate to know what was going on. I had gone to the campus doctor and taken all of the standard tests—flu, COVID, strep, etc.—just for everything to come back negative. I was feeling absolutely miserable and resorted to calling my Mom begging to go home. Upon going to the doctor at home, I found out I had the adenovirus, whatever that is.
All I know is that for the entire time that I felt sick, I felt very appreciative for my kind friends. Thanks to them, I actually ate whilst feeling disgusting. Thanks to them, I was able to actually take my temperature. Thanks to them, I didn’t feel completely alone while feeling so gross.
So, especially if you are here for Admitted Students Weekend, remember to bring a thermometer and acetaminophen to school, you might need it more than you thought.
ALSOOOOOO……. You should definitely keep an eye out for The Stute on Instagram because there will be Stute Weekend coming up for upcoming freshmen, and you should apply to join.
