During spring break my sister, who is a senior in high school, got accepted to the university that she wanted to attend (woohoo!). It was so nostalgic for me to experience that suspense/excitement with her again, remembering what it was like when I first opened my college admission letters. High school feels like it was years ago, but at the same time it’s mind-boggling to realize that I am almost done with my first year of college (whaaat?). But here I am, beginning my last quarter as a first-year in college, yet I feel like I haven’t really begun college.
I feel a sort of awkwardness thinking about finally being on campus in the fall. What will it be like to resume normal life again? And how will the transition to in-person school affect my academic performance? An honest part of me will really miss remote classes. Soon I won’t be able to watch the lecture in 2x speed or pause and replay something I missed, because it will all be live. What will it be like to live with a stranger as a roommate? And how do I make friends on campus? All of these questions have been racing through my mind as that anticipated college experience dream gets closer and more real. Strangely, I feel like a high school senior about to enter college again. Weird.
But although it wasn’t ideal at first, this unusual experience has become my norm, a routine that I’ve adopted in my daily life, and it has really tested my endurance and my ability to be independent. I like to look at this past year as a practice run for the real deal. I learned how to enroll in classes by myself. I experienced the rigor of college courses. I learned to manage my time and prepare for midterms and finals. Reminding myself of how well-equipped I actually am encourages me to finish this year on a high note and began next year with confidence.