So far, my journey at SIUE has been both interesting and exhausting. Every day, I find myself fighting the urge to go home. I knew I would feel some sense of homesickness when my mom left, but I didn’t anticipate just how strongly I’d miss my family. Academically, I’m managing well, though I wouldn’t say I’m thriving just yet. My two science classes, in particular, have been a challenge. I’m actively experimenting with different study techniques to figure out what helps me retain information best.