Freshmen Year: 2022-2023
The prompt I chose to use was to reflect on which ways I personally grew this year. This year was a significant change for me. And unfortunately for me, I am not a big fan of change. I graduated high school, went to college, had to live in a new place, had to make friends all over again, and got used to my newfound independence. And through all this, I was nervous and unsure of myself through every step. But I grew personally by reassuring myself about how much I could take on and how strong I was.
High School graduation was one of my life's happiest and saddest days. I was super excited to be graduating but sad because it meant that a chapter of my life was ending. It also meant that I couldn’t see my friends consistently anymore. As someone who is extremely introverted, I have trouble making friends. But I was lucky enough to have had a fantastic friend group that helped me through my senior year. Unfortunately, none of us were going to the same colleges, so we wouldn’t be able to see each other as often.
When I came to UC, I didn’t know what to expect. I had to leave most of the people I knew, live in a strange place with a stranger, and make new friends. This is a lot to ask from somebody who isn’t good with change. But I know that change is inevitable, so I took it one step at a time. While I am from Cincinnati, I still call UC a strange place because I grew up in the suburbs and not the city. They are two very different environments. And when choosing who and where to live with, I decided to jump into the deep end and live in a suite-style dorm with three random people. While these decisions scared me, I set goals to make my transition smoother. When I got to UC, I made a goal to explore a different part of the campus and city each week to help familiarize myself, and it worked. I got to know the campus well and found some cool spots around Clifton that I never knew existed. And as for my roommates, rooming with them was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It was very awkward and strange at first to be living with them. I would barely talk to them and would often keep to myself. But as the year went on, through talking and getting to know one another, we quickly discovered that we had many similarities. We all like the same foods, TV shows, movies, games, etc. Two out of my three roommates are now people that I would consider my best friends, and I probably wouldn’t have had as good of a college experience without them. Plus, they also helped me break out of my introverted shell. They would invite me to outings and introduce me to new people I probably wouldn’t have met alone. They also helped me with my exploration goal and would drag me out of the dorm to try new food places or experience new things. I didn’t make many new friends outside of them, but that's ok because it's two more than I originally planned.
Another way that I grew was by learning how to ask for help and utilizing my resources. I have a physical disability, limited mobility, and a chronic illness. So it can be hard for me to walk about campus, which, as we all know, is very hilly. And there are times when I will have to miss class. I am someone who usually will just suffer in silence. But I knew walking around campus and missing classes would be a massive challenge. Fortunately, someone told me to check out disability services to see what they could do to help me. I thought it would be a long ordeal requiring lots of paperwork and doctor's notes, but it wasn’t. The process was swift and accommodating to my needs. I could get the needed help and not struggle unnecessarily the whole year. Another way I managed to get help with my disability was by taking advantage of the school's shuttle system. There was a learning curve when learning how it worked, but it was beneficial when I was having bad days and couldn’t walk or if there was bad weather.
The most significant way that I believe I grew was when it came to academics. In high school, I was always the person who didn’t have to study for a test or quiz. I would just know the material or would be able to learn it the day before and be ok. However, this was not the case when I came to UC. I struggled when it came time to study and overwhelmed myself. I ended up doing ok on the tests, but it was extremely stressful, more stressful than I thought it should be. Because of a program that I was in, I had to do academic coaching. I thought it would waste my time, but it was worthwhile. My coach helped me develop a study plan that worked for me and gave me tips to help me combat procrastination (I am an avid procrastinator). I did very well academically this year, and I think a large part of that was because I got help with the things I was struggling with.
When I came to UC, I was a shy kid who planned on not making any friends, not going anywhere, and would just suffer through my problems if any arose. But, I had a phenomenal first year by being open to new opportunities and people and seeking help. I made two amazing friends, explored the city and campus, got the help that I needed, and excelled academically. I even started making friends and connections with people in my major. By doing this, I opened myself up to new possibilities. Recently, I got a job working on a classmate's project, which led me to other job opportunities. While I still have more goals for next year, I am proud of what I accomplished this year and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for me.
My roommates and I at the zoo's Festival of Lights
A picture of the slate for the production that I was recently working on that I got through a classmate.