Year 1 in Review

This is only my second year of college, yet I can hardly remember anything from my first year. It might just be too embarrassing and too awkward and best forgotten.

I reread the journal I kept last year–I brought it back because I thought I’d have time to write often this semester, ha–and realized that my first year wasn’t just awkward and embarrassing and weird. It was fun. I survived. I made those ever-famous friendships that will last a lifetime. I stopped counting how many days (110) I’d been at OSU on December 11, 2015: I was no longer counting the days but enjoying them.

I started to actually get out of my room to hang out, work out, whatever. I was no longer sitting in front of my books and laptop, studying all day. I traveled to Atlanta. I earned a research assistant position in a psycholinguistics lab. I took the leap and reached out to a few people who lived on my floor at the time. I took an even bigger leap and applied to study abroad in Quebec (see my “Crazy for Québec”). I joined an organization, gained leadership experience, and I faced my fear of speaking in front of people. These are just a few things that I did at OSU in my first year, and I often overlook these awesome experiences in favor of the memory of saying that one stupid thing that everyone has probably (hopefully) forgotten.

So, was my first year stressful and scary? Whose isn’t? But, the stress and fear were totally worth it: I came out a tougher, smarter, and more experienced person. 🙂

Giving a presentation at a CARE General Assembly, facing my fear of public speaking

Enjoying Coca-Cola World in Atlanta