(Fall 2022)
Over the semester I have learned a lot and grown as a person. I became more socially outgoing, made friends and been able to maintain friendships from back home. I have had a couple moments of self-doubt, but I was able to overcome those moments. There were a few times when I was extremely confused as to what was happening and what I needed to do, but every time I’ve had help and have been able to pull through.
The day I moved in, I remember feeling anxious all day because I was nervous about making friends or NOT being able to make friends. I was sad because all of my family and friends that I was used to being around all the time were now three hours away and I wasn’t going to see them everyday. The worst part was when my mom left that night, I remember it was after the CODES orientation and we came back to my room to do some last minute things that needed to be done and that’s when it suddenly hit me that she was going home and I wasn’t. I got really sad, I cried, which was weird because me and my mom used to have a rough relationship but once I realized that she wasn’t going to be there physically, every bad part of our relationship didn’t really matter anymore. It was hard to readjust at first and I called her almost everyday and I would get emotional when I had to hang up, it’s better now and I don’t know if it’s because we’re both busier than we were in August, or if I’ve just gotten better at being independent.
One of the biggest things I was worried about was not connecting with people and not having friends, but that definitely isn’t an issue anymore. I have grown closer with my suitemate and her group of friends, I have friends who live in the building but on a different floor, which isn’t easy but we manage, and I am still very close with my friends from home. One thing I regret is not joining a group or a club, and if I’m being honest, I regret not trying out for the dance team because dance is one of the biggest things I miss about being home.