Wow. Words can’t begin to describe how fast my first year at Ohio State has gone. Nevertheless, a lot has happened these past couple months. Whether it was navigating campus for the first time, meeting so many new people who I now call my friends, or living life on my own, these experiences have definitely made an impact on me, both inside and out. I know this is only one year of college, so I know that this is only the beginning.
After graduating from high school, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much my life was about to change once August came around. On the day I left my hometown before coming to Columbus, it was most definitely a bittersweet moment for me. I knew that home was always going to be home, no matter what, but it was difficult to leave the place where I grew up ever since I could remember. After shedding a few tears, I put this thought behind me and told myself that there are so many exciting things to look forward to. The car was packed, and we were on our way.
The next day, my journey at OSU finally started. Eventually, the time came when I had to say goodbye to my parents. While this may seem like a sad time, not a single tear was shed from my eyes. I knew there was no reason to cry because it was my goal to come here. I honestly couldn’t have chosen a better university to attend, and the opportunities that Ohio State has to offer are endless. My first week was filled with so many events that the thought of being sad never crossed my mind, and I’m really glad that it didn’t.
Fast-forward eight months later, and here I am making this post. Like I mentioned beforehand, this year has gone by extremely fast. Now that I’m at this point on my journey, I can look back and see how much I’ve changed over these past months. What I’ve learned is that coming to college can really change you as a person. Before I came here, I didn’t have to worry about things such as doing laundry or getting something for dinner because my parents took care of that. Now, I have to take things into my own hands and do it all myself. In addition, I learned that college is so much different than high school. Whether it be scheduling for classes, taking exams, or making sure that I was awake for the 8 AM class I took in the fall, college has affected me in multiple ways. It took some time to get used to these changes, but I soon realized that I could do it as long as I put forth the effort and do what I was supposed to do.
As these last two weeks of classes are about to begin with exams afterwards, I take everything I’ve learned up to this point and continue to improve not only my character but also the way I live life in general. Coming to Ohio State has truly been a blessing for me, and I’m always thankful for the never-ending love and support from my parents and family. Like I said previously, my journey is only beginning, and I’m always looking forward to what lies ahead of me.