Freshman

Now that my freshman year of college is coming to an end I think I can officially consider myself a professional freshman.

My expectations for the first year of college were very high. For someone who absolutely hated every second of high school, I was looking forward to a fresh start. What I have learned is that being a freshman (high school and college) is undoubtedly going to be a struggle. In my case the expectations I had for both of my experiences as a freshman were relatively similar but thankfully college had a much more pleasing outcome.

I’m going to reflect on my freshman endeavors with you… this should be interesting.

Above is a picture of baby Kiera. Like most incoming high school freshman I was absolutely terrified for my first day of school. So obviously my mom had to shove a camera in my face to document the moment.

The day before the first day of school I got my braces off after 2 torturous years. This boosted my confidence and I felt like I could conquer the world with my bracesless pearly whites, but, what I didn’t know was that no one actually cared and it wasn’t going to make people flock to me wanting to be my friend.

I may not have made many friends but I settled with the idea that the friends I made in elementary and middle school were all I needed, and I was okay with that.

Teachers in middle school made high school seem like you would be flooded with homework all the time with no time for happiness or breathing. That was far from true.

Just wait until college :)

As you see from the picture above, my mom managed to shove a camera in my face on move in day too. YAY COLLEGE! I was so excited and personally I think you can see that excitement on my face in the picture (I mean compare it to the pure horror on my face in my high school picture)

College was going to be my fresh start and I was beyond excited to start the journey. I was determined to have a better experience my freshman year of college than I did in high school.

The determination payed off.

Freshman year is coming to and end and I am the happiest I have ever been. Now I cant say that it has been an easy year because compared to high school, freshman year in college is hard work. But its good work. Its work I am interested in with professors who care.

I am ending this year happy with who I have become, happy with the decisions I have made, happy with the work I have done and happy with outcome of that work. Over the course of this year I have worked harder than I ever have before and although it included countless late nights and 12 hour study days, It has all been worth it. I have my determination and motivation to thank for that.

After writing this I came to the conclusion that mentality means everything. I went into high school with a negative attitude and the outcome was sub par. I went into college with excitement and determination and I have had one of the best, most rewarding years of my life. So, if I can give any piece of advice to a soon to be freshman it would be to learn from my mistakes. Do not go into the year insecure and nervous, don’t set unrealistic expectations, and don’t let roadblocks get in your way. Make every fresh start and new experience the best it can be. Open-mindedness and determination is all you need to get what your striving for.

Take a look at this. Its easy to find tips about not gaining the freshman 15 and how to manage an all night study sesh, but you can’t find these tips everywhere… and they’re good ones.