This semester has been an experience full of ups and downs, but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way! Coming into college straight from high school, I just wanted to find my place, a good friend group, and figure out what type of person I was going to be throughout my time here at SIUE. I also really had to accept being in college, brings you many more responsibilities. Going to class, getting my work done on time, keeping up with when exams are, cleaning and making food is all on me now. Not going to lie I struggled with a good amount of the things I previously listed, but nonetheless I learned and continue to learn how to handle all of these new responsibilities.
When being asked about expectations I had for college, personally, I can’t really answer that. Coming into college I didn’t really have any expectations set I was just going with the flow. But once we got separated into our research groups I slowly realized going with the flow brought me these amazing people. We support each other and take care of one another like family. This is a picture from our first outing last semester as a research team.
Not only did going with the flow bring me my CODES family, but it also brought me an amazing sisterhood that I joined August 2022. I am a proud member of Alpha Xi Delta- Iota Upsilon chapter. Joining this sisterhood has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. It so far has brought me some amazing Xisters and unforgettable memories.
Along with good comes bad, the biggest challenge I faced my first semester was losing my biggest supporter, my motivation, my father figure, my superman, my grandpa. He left this earth November 10th 2022 at 8:35pm. His death was very, very unexpected. I was lucky enough to get one last phone call with him 5 hours before he passed away. Life since the moment I got the call that he died, has not been the same since. He was an angel on this earth and ray of sunshine, he always made everything better. Any slight inconvenience I had, I called him to vent and he always made me feel better or he’d tell a joke to make me laugh because his favorite thing was seeing his granddaughters smile. He isn’t in pain anymore for which I am grateful for, but he is missed and will live on within my family and our hearts.
Semester Numero 2
Crazy to think my first year in college is almost over. This semester I have to retake my chemistry and biology course (wasn’t ideal, but it is what it is). I also have a much busier semester with work and with my sorority. But I am hoping this semester is much better and more organized/manageable then last semester.
New year, new me doesn’t really apply to me this year. It’s more of a “my turn” type of year. Last semester, I put many people before myself and my education this semester that wasn’t the case. Along with still grieving the death of my grandfather, I am trying to cope and better my mental health and strive to be a better version of my self this semester and the years to come.
As I am growing as a person our research team grew with knowledge. We have a mentorship program in the works for middle schoolers going into high school. Not only do we have that in the works, but we were also given a grant to help us make it happen. In our mentorship program we will have a group of mentees that we share the same interest with and we are going to mentor them but as well as be there for them no matter what they are going through. We want the mentees to know they will always have someone in their corner cheering them on and being there every step of the way.
One of my biggest accomplishments this semester was receiving an award at my sorority’s formal. I was awarded “Sweetest Xister”. And to many it may not seem like a big deal or accomplishment, but to me it is. It means that my sorority truly sees me for who I am and sees that no matter what I can be going through I will be nothing, but sweet to those around me.
All in all, my first year at SIUE was amazing and its bittersweet to see my first year will be over in a week, but I can not wait to see what else is in store for me throughout the rest of my time here. Enjoy some more pictures of Year one at SIUE! Roll Cougs!
