As my first year at The Ohio State comes to a close, I realize the extent to which I learned and changed as a person over the two semesters. The biggest thing I learned was how to manage my time better, as that was something I needed while taking 16 credit hours of classes, 20 hours per week at my job, and maintaining a social life. I learned to spend my free time working on upcoming assignments rather than wasting time on social media. I also learned to stop wasting money on things that would not benefit me long term, especially on things that were not essential. These two things singlehandedly prepared me for my adulthood and have made me confident that I will succeed throughout the rest of my time at Ohio State.
Going into my first year, my goal was to have a 4.0 gpa, join 4 clubs, volunteer every week, AND have fun with friends. I quickly realized that what came to me naturally in high school would have to be worked harder for here in college. Instead, I became proud of myself for ending the year with a 3.8 gpa, and set plans for getting volunteer and service experience to work on during my second year. I spent time with my friends while simultaneously working on myself. Overall, I learned that you cannot predict everything that will happen to you, and that life is all about adapting to the changes. My revised goals for next year are to learn, rather than focus on grades. I want to participate in leadership and volunteer experiences that excite me, while finding friends who uplift and support me for who I am.